Compare towns
Norwich vs Plainfield vs Windsor 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).
Windsor has the most people working from home (16.1%).
West Haven has the most renters (49.4% rent).
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 | Plainfield | Windsor | West Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 39,973 |
15,141Lowest |
29,468 |
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 |
37±4.5 10% below CT |
43.7±1.9Highest 6% above CT |
35.8±1.5Lowest 13% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±1.8Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
19.2%±2.1Lowest 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% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
20%±2Highest CT: 18.5% |
16%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Windsor 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% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
43.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
30.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.3 CT: 7.1% |
13.6%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $65,024±$5kLowest 32% below CT |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
$104,725±$8kHighest 9% above CT |
$74,382±$5k 22% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,300±$11kLowest 34% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$305,200±$11kHighest 17% below CT |
$291,700±$9k 20% below CT |
| Windsor 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 |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
$1,681±$62Highest 13% above CT |
$1,442±$43 3% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,703 29% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$5,351 19% below CT |
$6,941Highest 4% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.2%±7.2Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±10.9 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% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
6.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
14.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8% CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
82.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
50.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 10 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1959 8 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
21 minLowest 19% below CT |
23 min 14% below CT |
| Work from home | 7.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
16.1%±3.2Highest CT: 16% |
9.2%±1.4 CT: 16% |
| Windsor and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #133 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #117 of 149 in CT | #120 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District | Plainfield School District | Capitol Region Education Council · Windsor School District | New Haven School District · West Haven School District |
| High school in town | Norwich Free Academy | Plainfield High School | Windsor High School | West Haven High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8 |
10.3 |
10.2Lowest |
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.