Compare towns
Norwich vs Preston vs Windham vs Sprague
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).
Preston has the most people working from home (10.3%).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Sprague has the oldest population (median age 48.5).
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 | Preston | Windham | Sprague |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 39,973Highest |
4,821 |
23,961 |
2,962Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9% CT: +0.9% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 38.5±1.7 6% below CT |
46.2±7 12% above CT |
33.7±1.9Lowest 18% below CT |
48.5±10.7Highest 18% above CT |
| Sprague and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±1.8Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4 CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±2.4 CT: 20.2% |
17.1%±5.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Norwich and Windham 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% |
23%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.9%±3.9 CT: 18.5% |
| Preston and Sprague 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% |
28.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.7% CT: 42.5% |
19.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $65,024±$5k 32% below CT |
$116,648±$27kHighest 22% above CT |
$55,736±$5kLowest 42% below CT |
$92,850±$11k 3% below CT |
| Preston and Sprague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,300±$11k 34% below CT |
$361,900±$13kHighest about the CT average |
$209,800±$9kLowest 43% below CT |
$273,500±$17k 25% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,253±$68 16% below CT |
$1,433±$1kHighest 4% below CT |
$1,107±$69Lowest 26% below CT |
$1,247±$144 16% below CT |
| Preston and Norwich 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 |
$4,749Highest 29% below CT |
$4,633Lowest 30% below CT |
$4,668 30% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.2%±7.2 CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5 CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
26.9%±12.2Lowest 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% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
20.7%Highest CT: 10% |
8.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8% CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
47.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
67.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957 10 yrs older than CT |
1970Highest 3 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 |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
24 min 8% below CT |
30 minHighest 12% above CT |
| Work from home | 7.2%±2 CT: 16% |
10.3%±6Highest CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7 CT: 16% |
5%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
| Preston and Norwich 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 | #93 of 149 in CT | #143 of 149 in CT | #141 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District | Preston School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Sprague School District |
| High school in town | Norwich Free Academy | None in town | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
— | 9.8Lowest |
— |
| 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.