Compare towns

Norwich vs Suffield vs Willimantic

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).
Suffield has the most people working from home (18.4%).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).

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.

MeasureNorwichSuffieldWillimantic
People
Population
39,973Highest
15,702Lowest
18,096
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.9%Lowest
CT: +0.9%
—
+2.3%Highest
CT: +0.9%
Median age
38.5±1.7
6% below CT
44.5±1.7Highest
8% above CT
31.3±2.7Lowest
24% below CT
Kids under 18
20.9%±1.8Highest
CT: 20.2%
16.2%±2Lowest
CT: 20.2%
20.6%±2.5
CT: 20.2%
Norwich and Willimantic 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%
18.4%±2.2Highest
CT: 18.5%
11%±1.7Lowest
CT: 18.5%
Suffield 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%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
40.4%Highest
CT: 42.5%
24.2%
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1.2
CT: 7.1%
4.4%±1.2Lowest
CT: 7.1%
19.1%±2.1Highest
CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$65,024±$5k
32% below CT
$119,472±$13kHighest
25% above CT
$45,962±$7kLowest
52% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$242,300±$11k
34% below CT
$407,500±$26kHighest
11% above CT
$190,900±$17kLowest
48% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,253±$68
16% below CT
$1,424±$141Highest
4% below CT
$1,063±$68Lowest
29% below CT
Suffield 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
$6,456Highest
about the CT average
$4,678Lowest
30% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.2%±7.2Highest
CT: 52.6%
51%±4.6Lowest
CT: 52.6%
55.9%±8.1
CT: 52.6%
Norwich and Willimantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
16.7%
CT: 10%
4.6%Lowest
CT: 10%
23.4%Highest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
53.8%
CT: 66.5%
86.7%Highest
CT: 66.5%
34.9%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1957
10 yrs older than CT
1979Highest
12 yrs newer than CT
1953Lowest
14 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
9% below CT
26 minHighest
3% below CT
23 minLowest
12% below CT
Work from home
7.2%±2
CT: 16%
18.4%±4.1Highest
CT: 16%
6.2%±2Lowest
CT: 16%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #133 of 149 in CT #57 of 149 in CT —
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District Suffield School District —
High school in town Norwich Free Academy Suffield High School —
Students per teacherat that high school
14.8Highest
10.9Lowest
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On TownTapestry
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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.