Compare towns
Norwich vs Putnam vs Windham
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).
Putnam has the most people working from home (9%).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($210k 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 | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 39,973Highest |
9,292Lowest |
23,961 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 38.5±1.7 6% below CT |
43.7±3Highest 6% above CT |
33.7±1.9Lowest 18% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±1.8Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±2.4 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% |
18.5%±3.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Putnam 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%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
22.7% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $65,024±$5k 32% below CT |
$70,561±$7kHighest 26% below CT |
$55,736±$5kLowest 42% below CT |
| Putnam and Norwich 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 |
$269,200±$11kHighest 27% below CT |
$209,800±$9kLowest 43% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,253±$68Highest 16% below CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
$1,107±$69Lowest 26% below CT |
| Norwich and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,703Highest 29% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$4,633 30% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.2%±7.2 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1Highest 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% |
11.5%Lowest CT: 10% |
20.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Highest CT: 66.5% |
47.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957 10 yrs older than CT |
1961Highest 6 yrs older than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below CT |
25 minHighest 6% below CT |
24 min 8% below CT |
| Work from home | 7.2%±2 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Highest CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
| Putnam 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #143 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District | Putnam School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS |
| High school in town | Norwich Free Academy | Putnam High School | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
9.5Lowest |
9.8 |
| 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.