Compare towns
Sprague vs Windham vs Plainfield vs Norwich
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sprague has the oldest population (median age 48.5).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Plainfield has the most people working from home (10%).
Norwich has the most kids (20.9% 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 | Sprague | Windham | Plainfield | Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,962Lowest |
23,961 |
15,141 |
39,973Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | -0.9% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 48.5±10.7Highest 18% above CT |
33.7±1.9Lowest 18% below CT |
37±4.5 10% below CT |
38.5±1.7 6% below CT |
| Sprague and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±5.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±2.4 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
20.9%±1.8Highest 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+ | 19.9%±3.9Highest CT: 18.5% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
16.9%±1.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Sprague and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.2% CT: 42.5% |
22.7% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
23.1%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $92,850±$11kHighest 3% below CT |
$55,736±$5kLowest 42% below CT |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
$65,024±$5k 32% below CT |
| Sprague and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,500±$17kHighest 25% below CT |
$209,800±$9kLowest 43% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$242,300±$11k 34% below CT |
| Sprague and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,247±$144 16% below CT |
$1,107±$69Lowest 26% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,253±$68Highest 16% below CT |
| Norwich and Sprague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,668 30% below CT |
$4,633 30% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$4,703Highest 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.9%±12.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
56.2%±7.2 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 | 8.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
20.7%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
16.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2% CT: 66.5% |
47.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
53.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 8 yrs older than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1957 10 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above CT |
24 min 8% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
24 minLowest 9% below CT |
| Work from home | 5%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7 CT: 16% |
10%±4Highest CT: 16% |
7.2%±2 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 | #141 of 149 in CT | #143 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #133 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sprague School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Plainfield School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | Plainfield High School | Norwich Free Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Lowest |
10.3 |
14.8Highest |
| 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.