Compare towns
West Haven vs Willimantic vs Windham 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 most people working from home (9.2%).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
Norwich has the oldest population (median age 38.5).
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 | Willimantic | Windham | Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 55,351Highest |
18,096Lowest |
23,961 |
39,973 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% CT: +0.9% |
+2.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— | -0.9%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 35.8±1.5 13% below CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
33.7±1.9 18% below CT |
38.5±1.7Highest 6% below CT |
| Norwich and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±1.9 CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±2.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.9%±1.8Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Norwich and Willimantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
14.3%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
16.9%±1.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Norwich and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
24.2% CT: 42.5% |
22.7%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
23.1% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.6%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Willimantic and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,382±$5kHighest 22% below CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$55,736±$5k 42% below CT |
$65,024±$5k 32% below CT |
| West Haven and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $291,700±$9kHighest 20% below CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$209,800±$9k 43% below CT |
$242,300±$11k 34% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,442±$43Highest 3% below CT |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,107±$69 26% below CT |
$1,253±$68 16% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,941Highest 4% above CT |
$4,678 30% below CT |
$4,633Lowest 30% below CT |
$4,703 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±5.8Lowest CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1Highest 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 | 14.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
20.7% CT: 10% |
16.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.6% CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
47.4% CT: 66.5% |
53.8%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Highest 8 yrs older than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1956 11 yrs older than CT |
1957 10 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 14% below CT |
23 min 12% below CT |
24 minHighest 8% below CT |
24 min 9% below CT |
| Work from home | 9.2%±1.4Highest CT: 16% |
6.2%±2 CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
7.2%±2 CT: 16% |
| West Haven 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 | #120 of 149 in CT | — | #143 of 149 in CT | #133 of 149 in CT |
| School district | New Haven School District · West Haven School District | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District |
| High school in town | West Haven High School | — | Windham High School | Norwich Free Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.6Highest |
— | 9.8Lowest |
14.8 |
| 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.