Compare towns
Norwich vs Windham vs Plainfield
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 oldest population (median age 38.5).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Plainfield has the most people working from home (10%).
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 | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 39,973Highest |
23,961 |
15,141Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 38.5±1.7Highest 6% below CT |
33.7±1.9Lowest 18% below CT |
37±4.5 10% below CT |
| Norwich and Plainfield 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% |
20.1%±2.4 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Norwich and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±1.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Norwich and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.1%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.7% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $65,024±$5k 32% below CT |
$55,736±$5kLowest 42% below CT |
$76,993±$8kHighest 20% below CT |
| Plainfield and Norwich 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 |
$209,800±$9kLowest 43% below CT |
$272,100±$16kHighest 26% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,253±$68Highest 16% below CT |
$1,107±$69Lowest 26% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
| Norwich and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,703Highest 29% below CT |
$4,633 30% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.2%±7.2 CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest 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% |
8.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8% CT: 66.5% |
47.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957 10 yrs older than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below CT |
24 min 8% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 7.2%±2 CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
10%±4Highest CT: 16% |
| Plainfield and Norwich 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 | #131 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 | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Norwich Free Academy | Windham High School | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
9.8Lowest |
10.3 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.