Compare towns
Norwich vs Sturbridge vs Lisbon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Norwich has the most renters (46.2% rent).
Sturbridge has the most people working from home (19.8%).
Lisbon has the most homeowners (97.9%).
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 | Sturbridge | Lisbon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 39,973Highest |
9,960 |
4,211Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 38.5±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
44.5±5.2 14% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.1%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lisbon and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.3%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lisbon and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Norwich and Sturbridge 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 19% below U.S. |
$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S. |
$92,708±$12k 15% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,300±$11kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$425,800±$18kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$315,700±$26k 5% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,253±$68Highest 11% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398Lowest 16% below U.S. |
— |
| Norwich and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,703 51% above U.S. |
$6,520Highest 109% above U.S. |
$4,044Lowest 30% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.2%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±75.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lisbon and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.3%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #133 of 149 in CT | #89 of 282 in MA | #102 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Lisbon School District |
| High school in town | Norwich Free Academy | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
7.7Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.