Compare towns
Norwich vs Putnam vs Washington
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 youngest population (median age 38.5).
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k median).
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 | Putnam | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 39,973Highest |
9,292 |
3,676Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 38.5±1.7Lowest 6% below CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
49.9±5.5Highest 21% above CT |
| Washington and Putnam 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% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19%±4.7 CT: 20.2% |
| Norwich and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
26.9%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Washington and Putnam 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% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
53.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.4%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Washington and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $65,024±$5kLowest 32% below CT |
$70,561±$7k 26% below CT |
$101,549±$16kHighest 6% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,300±$11kLowest 34% below CT |
$269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
$660,200±$130kHighest 80% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,253±$68Highest 16% below CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,204±$264 19% below CT |
| Norwich and Washington 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 |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$4,709Highest 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.2%±7.2Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
26.1%±24Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Norwich and Putnam 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% |
11.5% CT: 10% |
9%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
59.8% CT: 66.5% |
79%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 10 yrs older than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
26 minHighest 4% below CT |
| Work from home | 7.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
20.1%±9Highest CT: 16% |
| Washington and Putnam 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #17 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District | Putnam School District | Regional School District 12 |
| High school in town | Norwich Free Academy | Putnam High School | Shepaug Valley School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
9.5 |
9.1Lowest |
| 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.