Compare towns
Windham vs Brooklyn vs Plainville vs Norwich
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Brooklyn has the most expensive homes ($315k median).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Norwich has the most kids (20.9% under 18).
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 | Windham | Brooklyn | Plainville | Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,961 |
8,517Lowest |
17,551 |
39,973Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | -0.9% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 33.7±1.9Lowest 18% below CT |
45.6±2.5Highest 11% above CT |
44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
38.5±1.7 6% below CT |
| Brooklyn and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±2.4 CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±4.6 CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.9%±1.8Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Norwich and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17.6%±2.9 CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.9%±1.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Plainville and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.7%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
23.9% CT: 42.5% |
30%Highest CT: 42.5% |
23.1% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $55,736±$5kLowest 42% below CT |
$96,207±$15kHighest about the CT average |
$84,343±$7k 12% below CT |
$65,024±$5k 32% below CT |
| Brooklyn and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $209,800±$9kLowest 43% below CT |
$315,200±$28kHighest 14% below CT |
$254,000±$14k 31% below CT |
$242,300±$11k 34% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,107±$69Lowest 26% below CT |
$1,125±$98 24% below CT |
$1,126±$147 24% below CT |
$1,253±$68Highest 16% below CT |
| Norwich and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,633 30% below CT |
$4,538Lowest 32% below CT |
$4,798Highest 28% below CT |
$4,703 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
38.5%±19.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4 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 | 20.7%Highest CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
6.5% CT: 10% |
16.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 47.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
81.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
67.7% CT: 66.5% |
53.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1957 10 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 8% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
24 min 9% below CT |
| Work from home | 6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
10.7%±5.4Highest CT: 16% |
10.7%±2Highest CT: 16% |
7.2%±2 CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #143 of 149 in CT | #113 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT | #133 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Brooklyn School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | None in town | Plainville High School | Norwich Free Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
— | 11.4 |
14.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.