Compare towns
Norwich vs Union 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).
Union has the most homeowners (92.9%).
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.
| Measure | Norwich | Union | Willimantic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 39,973Highest |
944Lowest |
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 |
49.9±4.3Highest 21% above CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±1.8Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest 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% |
24.5%±2.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.1%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
24% CT: 42.5% |
24.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
5%±3.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $65,024±$5k 32% below CT |
$88,958±$14kHighest 7% below CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,300±$11k 34% below CT |
$330,400±$26kHighest 10% below CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,253±$68Highest 16% below CT |
— | $1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,703 29% below CT |
$4,793Highest 28% below CT |
$4,678Lowest 30% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.2%±7.2 CT: 52.6% |
90%±64.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Union 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% |
5.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8% CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957 10 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
| Work from home | 7.2%±2 CT: 16% |
9%±3.7Highest CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
| Union and Norwich 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 | — | — |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District | Union School District | — |
| High school in town | Norwich Free Academy | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8 |
— | — |
| 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.