Compare towns
Norwich vs Webster vs West Haven
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 affordable homes ($242k median).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
West Haven has the most people working from home (9.2%).
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 | Webster | West Haven |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 39,973 |
17,748Lowest |
55,351Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
0% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.5±1.7 about the U.S. average |
39.9±2.9Highest about the U.S. average |
35.8±1.5Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Webster and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Webster 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
25.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.6%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $65,024±$5kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$72,895±$6k 10% below U.S. |
$74,382±$5kHighest 8% below U.S. |
| West Haven and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,300±$11kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$361,500±$12kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$291,700±$9k 12% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,253±$68 11% below U.S. |
$1,228±$81Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$1,442±$43Highest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,703 51% above U.S. |
$3,999Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$6,941Highest 123% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.2%±7.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±5.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Norwich and West Haven 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% |
12.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
50.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Highest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.2%±1.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| West Haven and Webster 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #120 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District | Webster | New Haven School District · West Haven School District |
| High school in town | Norwich Free Academy | Bartlett High School | West Haven High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8 |
11.6Lowest |
15.6Highest |
| 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.