Compare towns
West Haven vs Brookfield vs Norwich
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
West Haven has the youngest population (median age 35.8).
Brookfield has the highest household income ($148k).
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.
| Measure | West Haven | Brookfield | Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 55,351Highest |
17,706Lowest |
39,973 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— | -0.9%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 35.8±1.5Lowest 13% below CT |
44.3±1.8Highest 8% above CT |
38.5±1.7 6% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±1.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.7%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.9%±1.8 CT: 20.2% |
| Brookfield and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.8%±2.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.9%±1.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Brookfield and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.5% CT: 42.5% |
58.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
23.1%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.6%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.3%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,382±$5k 22% below CT |
$148,360±$11kHighest 55% above CT |
$65,024±$5kLowest 32% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $291,700±$9k 20% below CT |
$479,700±$24kHighest 31% above CT |
$242,300±$11kLowest 34% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,442±$43 3% below CT |
$1,892±$183Highest 27% above CT |
$1,253±$68Lowest 16% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,941 4% above CT |
$7,594Highest 14% above CT |
$4,703Lowest 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±5.8 CT: 52.6% |
35.9%±13.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
56.2%±7.2Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Norwich and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.1% CT: 10% |
4.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
16.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
53.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 8 yrs older than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1957Lowest 10 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 14% below CT |
28 minHighest 6% above CT |
24 min 9% below CT |
| Work from home | 9.2%±1.4 CT: 16% |
16.3%±3Highest CT: 16% |
7.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #120 of 149 in CT | #67 of 149 in CT | #133 of 149 in CT |
| School district | New Haven School District · West Haven School District | Brookfield School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District |
| High school in town | West Haven High School | Brookfield High School | Norwich Free Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.6Highest |
12.7Lowest |
14.8 |
| 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.