Compare towns

Norwich vs Prospect vs Willimantic

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Prospect has the highest household income ($126k).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% 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.

MeasureNorwichProspectWillimantic
People
Population
39,973Highest
9,458Lowest
18,096
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.9%Lowest
CT: +0.9%
—
+2.3%Highest
CT: +0.9%
Median age
38.5±1.7
6% below CT
46.8±3.9Highest
14% above CT
31.3±2.7Lowest
24% below CT
Kids under 18
20.9%±1.8
CT: 20.2%
21.4%±4.1Highest
CT: 20.2%
20.6%±2.5Lowest
CT: 20.2%
Prospect and Norwich 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%
24.5%±4.3Highest
CT: 18.5%
11%±1.7Lowest
CT: 18.5%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
23.1%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
40.3%Highest
CT: 42.5%
24.2%
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1.2
CT: 7.1%
3.5%±1.8Lowest
CT: 7.1%
19.1%±2.1Highest
CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$65,024±$5k
32% below CT
$126,394±$18kHighest
32% above CT
$45,962±$7kLowest
52% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$242,300±$11k
34% below CT
$355,400±$21kHighest
3% below CT
$190,900±$17kLowest
48% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,253±$68
16% below CT
$1,800±$433Highest
21% above CT
$1,063±$68Lowest
29% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,703
29% below CT
$6,504Highest
about the CT average
$4,678Lowest
30% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.2%±7.2Highest
CT: 52.6%
45.3%±31.8Lowest
CT: 52.6%
55.9%±8.1
CT: 52.6%
Norwich and Willimantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
16.7%
CT: 10%
3.2%Lowest
CT: 10%
23.4%Highest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
53.8%
CT: 66.5%
93.5%Highest
CT: 66.5%
34.9%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1957
10 yrs older than CT
1974Highest
7 yrs newer than CT
1953Lowest
14 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
9% below CT
28 minHighest
4% above CT
23 minLowest
12% below CT
Work from home
7.2%±2
CT: 16%
10.1%±3.2Highest
CT: 16%
6.2%±2Lowest
CT: 16%
Prospect 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 #50 of 149 in CT —
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District Regional School District 16 —
High school in town Norwich Free Academy None in town —
Students per teacherat that high school
14.8
— —
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.