Compare towns
Norwich vs Willimantic vs Chaplin vs Meriden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
Chaplin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Meriden has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
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 | Willimantic | Chaplin | Meriden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 39,973 |
18,096 |
2,070Lowest |
60,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
+2.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— | 0% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 38.5±1.7 6% below CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
43.7±4.8Highest 6% above CT |
38.9±1.3 5% below CT |
| Chaplin and Meriden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±1.8 CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
21.9%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Meriden and Norwich 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% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.2%±1.2 CT: 18.5% |
| Chaplin 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% CT: 42.5% |
24.2% CT: 42.5% |
25.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±0.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $65,024±$5k 32% below CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$97,846±$14kHighest about the CT average |
$71,253±$4k 26% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,300±$11k 34% below CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$255,200±$24kHighest 30% below CT |
$241,200±$7k 34% below CT |
| Chaplin and Norwich 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 |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
$1,294±$72 13% below CT |
| Chaplin and Meriden 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 |
$4,678 30% below CT |
$4,524Lowest 32% below CT |
$5,129Highest 23% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.2%±7.2Highest CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.4%±4.9 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% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
13.2% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8% CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
82.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
60.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957 10 yrs older than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1960 7 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below CT |
23 min 12% below CT |
32 minHighest 22% above CT |
23 minLowest 13% below CT |
| Work from home | 7.2%±2 CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
18.1%±10Highest CT: 16% |
8.6%±1.6 CT: 16% |
| Chaplin and Meriden 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 | — | — | #124 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District | — | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Meriden School District |
| High school in town | Norwich Free Academy | — | Parish Hill High School | Francis T. Maloney High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8 |
— | 7.5Lowest |
16.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.