Compare towns
Norwich vs Prospect vs Willimantic vs Preston
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).
Preston has the shortest commute (22 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 | Prospect | Willimantic | Preston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 39,973Highest |
9,458 |
18,096 |
4,821Lowest |
| 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 |
46.2±7 12% above CT |
| Prospect and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±1.8 CT: 20.2% |
21.4%±4.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4Lowest 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% |
23%±4.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Prospect and Preston 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% |
40.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
24.2% CT: 42.5% |
28.5% 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% |
4.9%±2.4 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 |
$116,648±$27k 22% above CT |
| Prospect and Preston 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 |
$355,400±$21k 3% below CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$361,900±$13kHighest about the CT average |
| Preston and Prospect 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 |
$1,800±$433Highest 21% above CT |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,433±$1k 4% below CT |
| Prospect and Preston 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 |
$6,504Highest about the CT average |
$4,678Lowest 30% below CT |
$4,749 29% 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% |
52.6%±12.5 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% CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8% CT: 66.5% |
93.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
91.7% 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 |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below CT |
28 minHighest 4% above CT |
23 min 12% below CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
| Work from home | 7.2%±2 CT: 16% |
10.1%±3.2 CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
10.3%±6Highest CT: 16% |
| Preston and Prospect 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 | — | #93 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District | Regional School District 16 | — | Preston School District |
| High school in town | Norwich Free Academy | None in town | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8 |
— | — | — |
| 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.