Compare towns

Willimantic vs Sandy Hook vs Norwich vs Ansonia

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).
Sandy Hook has the most people working from home (23.1%).

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.

MeasureWillimanticSandy HookNorwichAnsonia
People
Population
18,096
9,863Lowest
39,973Highest
19,033
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.3%Highest
CT: +0.9%
—
-0.9%
CT: +0.9%
-1.7%Lowest
CT: +0.9%
Median age
31.3±2.7Lowest
24% below CT
43.1±3Highest
5% above CT
38.5±1.7
6% below CT
40.1±1.6
about the CT average
Sandy Hook and Ansonia 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%
22.6%±4.1Highest
CT: 20.2%
20.9%±1.8
CT: 20.2%
18.3%±2.8Lowest
CT: 20.2%
Sandy Hook 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%
14.4%±2.4
CT: 18.5%
16.9%±1.7
CT: 18.5%
18.1%±2.7Highest
CT: 18.5%
Ansonia 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%
60.9%Highest
CT: 42.5%
23.1%
CT: 42.5%
21.9%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
19.1%±2.1Highest
CT: 7.1%
6.2%±2.1
CT: 7.1%
5.6%±1.2Lowest
CT: 7.1%
6.2%±1.8
CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$45,962±$7kLowest
52% below CT
$160,814±$25kHighest
68% above CT
$65,024±$5k
32% below CT
$85,877±$10k
10% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$190,900±$17kLowest
48% below CT
$501,200±$33kHighest
37% above CT
$242,300±$11k
34% below CT
$287,200±$14k
22% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,063±$68Lowest
29% below CT
$1,866±$439Highest
25% above CT
$1,253±$68
16% below CT
$1,476±$121
about the CT average
Sandy Hook and Ansonia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,678Lowest
30% below CT
$10,000+Highest
at least 51% above CT
$4,703
29% below CT
$5,446
18% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
55.9%±8.1
CT: 52.6%
52.4%±26.6
CT: 52.6%
56.2%±7.2Highest
CT: 52.6%
39.7%±10Lowest
CT: 52.6%
Norwich and Willimantic 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%
5.6%Lowest
CT: 10%
16.7%
CT: 10%
9.4%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
34.9%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
92.9%Highest
CT: 66.5%
53.8%
CT: 66.5%
58.1%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1953Lowest
14 yrs older than CT
1979Highest
12 yrs newer than CT
1957
10 yrs older than CT
1954
13 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 minLowest
12% below CT
35 minHighest
33% above CT
24 min
9% below CT
27 min
about the CT average
Work from home
6.2%±2Lowest
CT: 16%
23.1%±4.4Highest
CT: 16%
7.2%±2
CT: 16%
9.1%±2.9
CT: 16%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — — #133 of 149 in CT #142 of 149 in CT
School district — — Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Ansonia School District
High school in town — — Norwich Free Academy Emmett O'Brien Technical High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
14.8Highest
12.2Lowest
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.