Compare towns
Windham vs Franklin vs Colebrook 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).
Franklin has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
Colebrook has the oldest population (median age 52.1).
Norwich has the most people working from home (7.2%).
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 | Franklin | Colebrook | Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,961 |
2,004 |
1,494Lowest |
39,973Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | -0.9% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 33.7±1.9Lowest 18% below CT |
40.3±4.3 about the CT average |
52.1±5Highest 27% above CT |
38.5±1.7 6% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±2.4 CT: 20.2% |
27.2%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
17.9%±3.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.9%±1.8 CT: 20.2% |
| Franklin and Norwich 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% |
17.4%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
26%±4.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.9%±1.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.7%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
27.8% CT: 42.5% |
36.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
23.1% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $55,736±$5kLowest 42% below CT |
$105,000±$10k 10% above CT |
$111,250±$17kHighest 16% above CT |
$65,024±$5k 32% below CT |
| Colebrook and Franklin 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 |
$326,200±$20k 11% below CT |
$342,800±$19kHighest 7% below CT |
$242,300±$11k 34% below CT |
| Colebrook and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,107±$69 26% below CT |
$767±$529Lowest 48% below CT |
$1,333±$626Highest 10% below CT |
$1,253±$68 16% below CT |
| Colebrook and Norwich 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 |
$3,934Lowest 41% below CT |
$6,211Highest 7% below CT |
$4,703 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
19.5%±18.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
42.1%±55 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% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
8.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
16.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 47.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
84.1% CT: 66.5% |
91.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
53.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1973Highest 6 yrs newer than CT |
1960 7 yrs older than CT |
1957 10 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 8% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
34 minHighest 29% above CT |
24 minLowest 9% below CT |
| Work from home | 6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
6.8%±2.4 CT: 16% |
7%±3.8 CT: 16% |
7.2%±2Highest CT: 16% |
| Norwich and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #143 of 149 in CT | — | — | #133 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Franklin School District | Colebrook School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | None in town | None in town | Norwich Free Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
— | — | 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.