What stands out worked out from the figures below

Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).

Norwich has the most affordable homes ($242k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Webster	Norwich
People
Population	17,748Lowest	39,973Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.9±2.9Highest about the U.S. average	38.5±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average
	Webster and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22%
	Norwich and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%	16.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Webster and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	23.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.6%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Webster and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$72,895±$6kHighest 10% below U.S.	$65,024±$5kLowest 19% below U.S.
	Webster and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$361,500±$12kHighest 9% above U.S.	$242,300±$11kLowest 27% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,228±$81Lowest 13% below U.S.	$1,253±$68Highest 11% below U.S.
	Norwich and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,999Lowest 28% above U.S.	$4,703Highest 51% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.7%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	56.2%±7.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Norwich and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	59.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	53.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962Highest 18 yrs older than U.S.	1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 16% above U.S.	24 minLowest 9% below U.S.
Work from home	8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	7.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Webster 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	#271 of 282 in MA	#133 of 149 in CT
School district	Webster	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District
High school in town	Bartlett High School	Norwich Free Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	11.6Lowest	14.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.