Compare towns
Norwich vs Sandy Hook 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 shortest commute (24 min average).
Sandy Hook has the most people working from home (23.1%).
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 | Sandy Hook | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 39,973Highest |
9,863Lowest |
23,961 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 38.5±1.7 6% below CT |
43.1±3Highest 5% above CT |
33.7±1.9Lowest 18% below CT |
| Sandy Hook and Norwich 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% |
22.6%±4.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±2.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Sandy Hook and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±1.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
14.4%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Norwich and Sandy Hook 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% |
60.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.7%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $65,024±$5k 32% below CT |
$160,814±$25kHighest 68% above CT |
$55,736±$5kLowest 42% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,300±$11k 34% below CT |
$501,200±$33kHighest 37% above CT |
$209,800±$9kLowest 43% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,253±$68 16% below CT |
$1,866±$439Highest 25% above CT |
$1,107±$69Lowest 26% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,703 29% below CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$4,633Lowest 30% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.2%±7.2 CT: 52.6% |
52.4%±26.6Lowest 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% |
5.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
20.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8% CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
47.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957 10 yrs older than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below CT |
35 minHighest 33% above CT |
24 min 8% below CT |
| Work from home | 7.2%±2 CT: 16% |
23.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #133 of 149 in CT | — | #143 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS |
| High school in town | Norwich Free Academy | — | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
— | 9.8Lowest |
| 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.