Compare towns
Windham vs Hampton vs Smithfield vs Norwich
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Hampton has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Smithfield has the most expensive homes ($446k median).
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 | Hampton | Smithfield | Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,961 |
1,647Lowest |
22,233 |
39,973Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±1.9Lowest 13% below U.S. |
51.5±5.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
41.8±2.6 7% above U.S. |
38.5±1.7 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Smithfield 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±$5kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$109,167±$19kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8k 26% above U.S. |
$65,024±$5k 19% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $209,800±$9kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$295,800±$27k 11% below U.S. |
$446,400±$12kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$242,300±$11k 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,107±$69 22% below U.S. |
$1,285±$288Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,253±$68 11% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,633 49% above U.S. |
$4,364Lowest 40% above U.S. |
$5,207Highest 67% above U.S. |
$4,703 51% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±8.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±51.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.2%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 20.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 47.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
53.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1957 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 8% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.1%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton and Smithfield 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 | — | #8 of 38 in RI | #133 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Hampton School District | Smithfield | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | None in town | Smithfield High School | Norwich Free Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
— | 11.8 |
14.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.