Compare towns

West Haven vs Windsor Locks 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 expensive homes ($292k median).
Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).
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.

MeasureWest HavenWindsor LocksNorwich
People
Population
55,351Highest
12,579Lowest
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
41.4±2.6Highest
about the CT average
38.5±1.7
6% below CT
Windsor Locks and Norwich 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%
18.6%±3.4Lowest
CT: 20.2%
20.9%±1.8Highest
CT: 20.2%
Norwich and West Haven 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%
18.2%±2.7Highest
CT: 18.5%
16.9%±1.7
CT: 18.5%
Windsor Locks 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%Highest
CT: 42.5%
28.6%
CT: 42.5%
23.1%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
13.6%±1.6Highest
CT: 7.1%
5.9%±1.8
CT: 7.1%
5.6%±1.2Lowest
CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$74,382±$5k
22% below CT
$81,205±$13kHighest
15% below CT
$65,024±$5kLowest
32% below CT
Windsor Locks and West Haven 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
$258,800±$14k
29% below CT
$242,300±$11kLowest
34% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,442±$43Highest
3% below CT
$1,394±$187
6% below CT
$1,253±$68Lowest
16% below CT
West Haven and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,941Highest
4% above CT
$3,688Lowest
44% below CT
$4,703
29% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
53.4%±5.8Lowest
CT: 52.6%
58.2%±16.8Highest
CT: 52.6%
56.2%±7.2
CT: 52.6%
Windsor Locks and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
14.1%
CT: 10%
10.9%Lowest
CT: 10%
16.7%Highest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
50.6%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
77.1%Highest
CT: 66.5%
53.8%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1959
8 yrs older than CT
1961Highest
6 yrs older than CT
1957Lowest
10 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 min
14% below CT
22 minLowest
17% below CT
24 minHighest
9% below CT
Work from home
9.2%±1.4
CT: 16%
17.7%±3.7Highest
CT: 16%
7.2%±2Lowest
CT: 16%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #120 of 149 in CT #109 of 149 in CT #133 of 149 in CT
School district New Haven School District · West Haven School District Windsor Locks School District Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District
High school in town West Haven High School Windsor Locks High School Norwich Free Academy
Students per teacherat that high school
15.6Highest
8.9Lowest
14.8
On TownTapestry
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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.