Compare towns

Norwich vs Thompson vs Windsor Locks

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 renters (46.2% rent).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).

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.

MeasureNorwichThompsonWindsor Locks
People
Population
39,973Highest
9,337Lowest
12,579
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.9%
CT: +0.9%
— —
Median age
38.5±1.7Lowest
6% below CT
54.1±2.2Highest
32% above CT
41.4±2.6
about the CT average
Kids under 18
20.9%±1.8Highest
CT: 20.2%
11.4%±2.8Lowest
CT: 20.2%
18.6%±3.4
CT: 20.2%
Norwich and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
16.9%±1.7Lowest
CT: 18.5%
24.4%±4.3Highest
CT: 18.5%
18.2%±2.7
CT: 18.5%
Thompson and Windsor Locks 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%
21.9%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
28.6%Highest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1.2
CT: 7.1%
2.9%±1.3Lowest
CT: 7.1%
5.9%±1.8Highest
CT: 7.1%
Windsor Locks and Norwich 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
32% below CT
$93,629±$18kHighest
about the CT average
$81,205±$13k
15% below CT
Thompson and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$242,300±$11kLowest
34% below CT
$291,900±$24kHighest
20% below CT
$258,800±$14k
29% below CT
Thompson and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,253±$68
16% below CT
$1,012±$344Lowest
32% below CT
$1,394±$187Highest
6% below CT
Windsor Locks and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,703Highest
29% below CT
$3,822
42% below CT
$3,688Lowest
44% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.2%±7.2
CT: 52.6%
54%±18.7Lowest
CT: 52.6%
58.2%±16.8Highest
CT: 52.6%
Windsor Locks 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
CT: 10%
5.9%Lowest
CT: 10%
10.9%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
53.8%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
84.3%Highest
CT: 66.5%
77.1%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1957Lowest
10 yrs older than CT
1963Highest
4 yrs older than CT
1961
6 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
9% below CT
32 minHighest
20% above CT
22 minLowest
17% below CT
Work from home
7.2%±2Lowest
CT: 16%
13.1%±4.4
CT: 16%
17.7%±3.7Highest
CT: 16%
Windsor Locks and Thompson 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 #130 of 149 in CT #109 of 149 in CT
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District Thompson School District Windsor Locks School District
High school in town Norwich Free Academy Tourtellotte Memorial High School Windsor Locks High School
Students per teacherat that high school
14.8Highest
7.9Lowest
8.9
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.