What stands out worked out from the figures below

Norwich has the most affordable homes ($242k median).

Wilbraham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Norwich	Wilbraham
People
Population	39,973Highest	14,572Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	38.5±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average	44.3±2.7Highest 14% above U.S.
Kids under 18	20.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22%	23.2%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	Wilbraham 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%	23%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	23.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	51.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Norwich and Wilbraham 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.	$122,051±$14kHighest 51% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$242,300±$11kLowest 27% below U.S.	$416,000±$25kHighest 25% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,253±$68Highest 11% below U.S.	$1,175±$241Lowest 17% below U.S.
	Norwich and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,703Lowest 51% above U.S.	$6,658Highest 113% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.2%±7.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	53.1%±23.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Norwich and Wilbraham 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%	4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	53.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	88.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S.	1966Highest 14 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 9% below U.S.	27 minHighest about the U.S. average
Work from home	7.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	12.9%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#133 of 149 in CT	#88 of 282 in MA
School district	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District	Hampden-Wilbraham
High school in town	Norwich Free Academy	Minnechaug Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school	14.8Highest	14.2Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.