Compare towns
Norwich vs Hampton vs Windham 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 kids (20.9% under 18).
Hampton has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
West Haven has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Hampton | Windham | West Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 39,973 |
1,647Lowest |
23,961 |
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 |
51.5±5.3Highest 25% above CT |
33.7±1.9Lowest 18% below CT |
35.8±1.5 13% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±1.8Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.7%±5.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±2.4 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% |
26.1%±2.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
16%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.1% CT: 42.5% |
29.9% CT: 42.5% |
22.7%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
30.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
13.6%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
| Windham and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $65,024±$5k 32% below CT |
$109,167±$19kHighest 14% above CT |
$55,736±$5kLowest 42% below CT |
$74,382±$5k 22% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,300±$11k 34% below CT |
$295,800±$27kHighest 19% below CT |
$209,800±$9kLowest 43% below CT |
$291,700±$9k 20% below CT |
| Hampton and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,253±$68 16% below CT |
$1,285±$288 14% below CT |
$1,107±$69Lowest 26% below CT |
$1,442±$43Highest 3% below CT |
| West Haven and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,703 29% below CT |
$4,364Lowest 34% below CT |
$4,633 30% below CT |
$6,941Highest 4% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.2%±7.2 CT: 52.6% |
52.5%±51.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
53.4%±5.8 CT: 52.6% |
| Windham and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.7% CT: 10% |
5.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
20.7%Highest CT: 10% |
14.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8% CT: 66.5% |
90%Highest CT: 66.5% |
47.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
50.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957 10 yrs older than CT |
1980Highest 13 yrs newer than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1959 8 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below CT |
29 minHighest 9% above CT |
24 min 8% below CT |
23 minLowest 14% below CT |
| Work from home | 7.2%±2 CT: 16% |
17.7%±5.1Highest CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
9.2%±1.4 CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #133 of 149 in CT | — | #143 of 149 in CT | #120 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District | Hampton School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | New Haven School District · West Haven School District |
| High school in town | Norwich Free Academy | None in town | Windham High School | West Haven High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8 |
— | 9.8Lowest |
15.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.