Compare towns
Norwich vs Durham vs West Haven
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Norwich has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Durham has the most people working from home (20.5%).
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 | Durham | West Haven |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 39,973 |
7,208Lowest |
55,351Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
— | 0%Highest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 38.5±1.7 6% below CT |
45.5±2.8Highest 11% above CT |
35.8±1.5Lowest 13% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±1.8Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±1.9 CT: 20.2% |
| Norwich and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±1.7 CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±3.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
16%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Durham and Norwich 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 CT: 42.5% |
47.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
30.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
13.6%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $65,024±$5kLowest 32% below CT |
$158,857±$7kHighest 66% above CT |
$74,382±$5k 22% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,300±$11kLowest 34% below CT |
$424,800±$23kHighest 16% above CT |
$291,700±$9k 20% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,253±$68 16% below CT |
$1,154±$448Lowest 22% below CT |
$1,442±$43Highest 3% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,703Lowest 29% below CT |
$7,998Highest 20% above CT |
$6,941 4% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.2%±7.2Highest CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±28.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.4%±5.8 CT: 52.6% |
| 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 CT: 10% |
3.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
14.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8% CT: 66.5% |
93.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
50.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 10 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1959 8 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 9% below CT |
23 min 13% below CT |
23 minLowest 14% below CT |
| Work from home | 7.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
20.5%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
9.2%±1.4 CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #133 of 149 in CT | #88 of 149 in CT | #120 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District | Regional School District 13 | New Haven School District · West Haven School District |
| High school in town | Norwich Free Academy | Coginchaug Regional High School | West Haven High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8 |
8.9Lowest |
15.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
CT 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.