Compare towns
Norwich vs Sterling vs West Haven
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 affordable homes ($242k median).
Sterling has the most homeowners (81.1%).
West Haven has the youngest population (median age 35.8).
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 | Sterling | West Haven |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 39,973 |
3,629Lowest |
55,351Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
— | 0%Highest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 38.5±1.7 6% below CT |
39.4±5.9Highest 4% below CT |
35.8±1.5Lowest 13% below CT |
| Sterling 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% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±1.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling 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% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
16%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
| Norwich and West Haven 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% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
30.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
13.6%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $65,024±$5kLowest 32% below CT |
$102,695±$12kHighest 7% above CT |
$74,382±$5k 22% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,300±$11kLowest 34% below CT |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
$291,700±$9kHighest 20% below CT |
| West Haven and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,253±$68Lowest 16% below CT |
— | $1,442±$43Highest 3% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,703 29% below CT |
$4,551Lowest 31% below CT |
$6,941Highest 4% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.2%±7.2Highest CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.4%±5.8 CT: 52.6% |
| Norwich and West Haven 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% |
8.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
14.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8% CT: 66.5% |
81.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
50.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 10 yrs older than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1959 8 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
23 minLowest 14% below CT |
| Work from home | 7.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
9.2%±1.4 CT: 16% |
| Sterling and West Haven 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 | #119 of 149 in CT | #120 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District | Sterling School District | New Haven School District · West Haven School District |
| High school in town | Norwich Free Academy | None in town | West Haven High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Lowest |
— | 15.6Highest |
| 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.