Compare towns
Norwich vs Windham vs Brooklyn vs Meriden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Brooklyn has the most homeowners (81.7%).
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 | Windham | Brooklyn | Meriden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 39,973 |
23,961 |
8,517Lowest |
60,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
— | — | 0%Highest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 38.5±1.7 6% below CT |
33.7±1.9Lowest 18% below CT |
45.6±2.5Highest 11% above CT |
38.9±1.3 5% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±1.8 CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±2.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±4.6 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% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17.6%±2.9Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.2%±1.2 CT: 18.5% |
| Brooklyn 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% |
22.7% CT: 42.5% |
23.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±0.9 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $65,024±$5k 32% below CT |
$55,736±$5kLowest 42% below CT |
$96,207±$15kHighest about the CT average |
$71,253±$4k 26% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,300±$11k 34% below CT |
$209,800±$9kLowest 43% below CT |
$315,200±$28kHighest 14% below CT |
$241,200±$7k 34% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,253±$68 16% below CT |
$1,107±$69Lowest 26% below CT |
$1,125±$98 24% below CT |
$1,294±$72Highest 13% below CT |
| Meriden and Norwich 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 |
$4,633 30% below CT |
$4,538Lowest 32% below CT |
$5,129Highest 23% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.2%±7.2 CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
38.5%±19.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.4%±4.9 CT: 52.6% |
| Windham 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% |
20.7%Highest CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
13.2% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8% CT: 66.5% |
47.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
81.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
60.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957 10 yrs older than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1960 7 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below CT |
24 min 8% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
23 minLowest 13% below CT |
| Work from home | 7.2%±2 CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
10.7%±5.4Highest CT: 16% |
8.6%±1.6 CT: 16% |
| Brooklyn 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 | #143 of 149 in CT | #113 of 149 in CT | #124 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Brooklyn School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Meriden School District |
| High school in town | Norwich Free Academy | Windham High School | None in town | Francis T. Maloney High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8 |
9.8Lowest |
— | 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.