Compare towns
Willimantic vs Putnam vs Mansfield 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).
Putnam has the oldest population (median age 43.7).
Mansfield has the most people working from home (28.3%).
Norwich has the most kids (20.9% under 18).
Mansfield is a college town. 57% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Putnam | Mansfield | Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,096 |
9,292Lowest |
25,358 |
39,973Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— | — | -0.9%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 31.3±2.7 24% below CT |
43.7±3Highest 6% above CT |
21.2±0.2Lowest 48% below CT |
38.5±1.7 6% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
9.2%±1.6Lowest 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+ | 11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
16.9%±1.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Putnam 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% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
57.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
23.1% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.1%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
57%±2.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$70,561±$7k 26% below CT |
$72,393±$12kHighest 24% below CT |
$65,024±$5k 32% below CT |
| Mansfield and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
$335,400±$20kHighest 9% below CT |
$242,300±$11k 34% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
$1,602±$104Highest 8% above CT |
$1,253±$68 16% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,678 30% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$5,727Highest 14% below CT |
$4,703 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
76%±9.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
56.2%±7.2 CT: 52.6% |
| Below poverty line | 23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
11.5%Lowest CT: 10% |
21.6% CT: 10% |
16.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Highest CT: 66.5% |
57.3% CT: 66.5% |
53.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1957 10 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 12% below CT |
25 minHighest 6% below CT |
21 minLowest 22% below CT |
24 min 9% below CT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
28.3%±3.3Highest CT: 16% |
7.2%±2 CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #128 of 149 in CT | #45 of 149 in CT | #133 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Putnam School District | Regional School District 19 · Mansfield School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District |
| High school in town | — | Putnam High School | E. O. Smith High School | Norwich Free Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5Lowest |
11.8 |
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.