What stands out worked out from the figures below

Norwich has the most affordable homes ($242k median).

Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Norwich	Douglas
People
Population	39,973Highest	9,207Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	38.5±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average	44±2.6Highest 13% above U.S.
Kids under 18	20.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22%
	Douglas and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Norwich and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	23.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	41.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Norwich and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$65,024±$5kLowest 19% below U.S.	$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$242,300±$11kLowest 27% below U.S.	$470,600±$29kHighest 41% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,253±$68Lowest 11% below U.S.	$1,503±$697Highest 6% above U.S.
	Douglas and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,703Lowest 51% above U.S.	$6,338Highest 103% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.2%±7.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Norwich and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	53.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	83.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S.	1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 9% below U.S.	34 minHighest 28% above U.S.
Work from home	7.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	20.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#133 of 149 in CT	#177 of 282 in MA
School district	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District	Douglas
High school in town	Norwich Free Academy	Douglas High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.8Highest	7.2Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.