Compare towns
Norwich vs Sterling vs Windham vs Preston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sterling has the most people working from home (11.6%).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Preston has the most expensive homes ($362k 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 | Sterling | Windham | Preston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 39,973Highest |
3,629Lowest |
23,961 |
4,821 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9% CT: +0.9% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 38.5±1.7 6% below CT |
39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
33.7±1.9Lowest 18% below CT |
46.2±7Highest 12% above CT |
| Preston and Sterling 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% |
20.1%±2.4 CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4Lowest 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%±1.7 CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
14.3%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
23%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Preston 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% CT: 42.5% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
22.7% CT: 42.5% |
28.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $65,024±$5k 32% below CT |
$102,695±$12k 7% above CT |
$55,736±$5kLowest 42% below CT |
$116,648±$27kHighest 22% above CT |
| Preston and Sterling 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 |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
$209,800±$9kLowest 43% below CT |
$361,900±$13kHighest about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,253±$68 16% below CT |
— | $1,107±$69Lowest 26% below CT |
$1,433±$1kHighest 4% below CT |
| Preston and Norwich 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 |
$4,551Lowest 31% below CT |
$4,633 30% below CT |
$4,749Highest 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.2%±7.2 CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5 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% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
20.7%Highest CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8% CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
47.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957 10 yrs older than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
24 min 8% below CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
| Work from home | 7.2%±2 CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
| Sterling and Preston 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 | #143 of 149 in CT | #93 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District | Sterling School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Preston School District |
| High school in town | Norwich Free Academy | None in town | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
— | 9.8Lowest |
— |
| 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.