Compare towns
Norwich vs Douglas vs West Haven
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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%).
West Haven has the youngest population (median age 35.8).
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.
| Measure | Norwich | Douglas | West Haven |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 39,973 |
9,207Lowest |
55,351Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
0% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.5±1.7 about the U.S. average |
44±2.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
35.8±1.5Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±1.9Lowest 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% |
16%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Norwich and West Haven 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% |
30.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.6%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $65,024±$5kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$74,382±$5k 8% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,300±$11kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$470,600±$29kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$291,700±$9k 12% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,253±$68Lowest 11% below U.S. |
$1,503±$697Highest 6% above U.S. |
$1,442±$43 about the U.S. average |
| Douglas and West Haven 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. |
$6,338 103% above U.S. |
$6,941Highest 123% 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% |
53.4%±5.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Norwich and West Haven 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% |
14.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
50.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.2%±1.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #133 of 149 in CT | #177 of 282 in MA | #120 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District | Douglas | New Haven School District · West Haven School District |
| High school in town | Norwich Free Academy | Douglas High School | West Haven High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8 |
7.2Lowest |
15.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.