Compare towns
Norwich vs Willimantic vs Windsor Locks vs Preston
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).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Preston has the highest household income ($117k).
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 | Windsor Locks | Preston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 39,973Highest |
18,096 |
12,579 |
4,821Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
+2.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
+0.9% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 38.5±1.7 6% below CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
41.4±2.6 about the CT average |
46.2±7Highest 12% above CT |
| Preston and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±1.8Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4 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% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
23%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Preston 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%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
24.2% CT: 42.5% |
28.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
28.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $65,024±$5k 32% below CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$81,205±$13k 15% below CT |
$116,648±$27kHighest 22% above CT |
| Preston 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±$11k 34% below CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$258,800±$14k 29% below CT |
$361,900±$13kHighest about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,253±$68 16% below CT |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,394±$187 6% below CT |
$1,433±$1kHighest 4% below CT |
| Preston and Windsor Locks 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 |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$4,749Highest 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.2%±7.2 CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5Lowest 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% CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
10.9% CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8% CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
77.1% CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957 10 yrs older than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1970Highest 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 9% below CT |
23 min 12% below CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
22 min 17% below CT |
| Work from home | 7.2%±2 CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7Highest CT: 16% |
10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
| Windsor Locks and Preston 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 | — | #109 of 149 in CT | #93 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District | — | — | Preston 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 | 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.