Compare towns
Windham vs Franklin vs Willimantic vs Norwich
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Franklin has the highest household income ($105k).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
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 | Willimantic | Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,961 |
2,004Lowest |
18,096 |
39,973Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +2.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
-0.9%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 33.7±1.9 18% below CT |
40.3±4.3Highest about the CT average |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
38.5±1.7 6% below CT |
| Franklin and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±2.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
27.2%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5 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%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±1.9Highest CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
16.9%±1.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Franklin and Norwich 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% |
27.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
24.2% CT: 42.5% |
23.1% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.2%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
| Willimantic and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $55,736±$5k 42% below CT |
$105,000±$10kHighest 10% above CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$65,024±$5k 32% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $209,800±$9k 43% below CT |
$326,200±$20kHighest 11% below CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$242,300±$11k 34% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,107±$69 26% below CT |
$767±$529Lowest 48% below CT |
$1,063±$68 29% below CT |
$1,253±$68Highest 16% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,633 30% below CT |
$3,934Lowest 41% below CT |
$4,678 30% below CT |
$4,703Highest 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
19.5%±18.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1 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% CT: 10% |
8.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
16.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 47.4% CT: 66.5% |
84.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
53.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 11 yrs older than CT |
1973Highest 6 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older 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 |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
24 min 9% below CT |
| Work from home | 6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
6.8%±2.4 CT: 16% |
6.2%±2 CT: 16% |
7.2%±2Highest CT: 16% |
| Norwich and Franklin 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 | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | 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.