Compare towns
Willimantic vs Marlborough 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
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
Marlborough has the most people working from home (33.2%).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Willimantic | Marlborough | Windsor Locks | Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,096 |
6,130Lowest |
12,579 |
39,973Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— | — | -0.9%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
41.8±4.7Highest about the CT average |
41.4±2.6 about the CT average |
38.5±1.7 6% below CT |
| Marlborough and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
23.6%±5.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.9%±1.8 CT: 20.2% |
| Marlborough and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
16.3%±3.5 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+ | 24.2% CT: 42.5% |
45.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
28.6% CT: 42.5% |
23.1%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±2.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$142,105±$35kHighest 48% above CT |
$81,205±$13k 15% below CT |
$65,024±$5k 32% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$379,100±$33kHighest 3% above CT |
$258,800±$14k 29% below CT |
$242,300±$11k 34% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,333±$438 10% below CT |
$1,394±$187Highest 6% below CT |
$1,253±$68 16% below CT |
| Windsor Locks and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,678 30% below CT |
$7,397Highest 11% above CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$4,703 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
59.2%±36Highest CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8 CT: 52.6% |
56.2%±7.2 CT: 52.6% |
| Marlborough and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
9.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.9% CT: 10% |
16.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
92.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
77.1% CT: 66.5% |
53.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1977Highest 10 yrs newer than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1957 10 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 12% below CT |
34 minHighest 29% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
24 min 9% below CT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
33.2%±8.9Highest CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
7.2%±2 CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #52 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #133 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Marlborough School District | Windsor Locks School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Windsor Locks High School | Norwich Free Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.9Lowest |
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.