Compare towns
Windham vs Monroe 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
Monroe has the highest household income ($157k).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
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 | Monroe | Willimantic | Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,961 |
18,949 |
18,096Lowest |
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 |
43.5±2.2Highest 6% above CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
38.5±1.7 6% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±2.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
25.2%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
20.9%±1.8 CT: 20.2% |
| Monroe 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% |
15.6%±2 CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
16.9%±1.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Norwich and Monroe 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% |
57.3%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% |
5.1%±1.8Lowest 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 |
$157,250±$12kHighest 64% above CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$65,024±$5k 32% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $209,800±$9k 43% below CT |
$503,200±$31kHighest 37% above CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$242,300±$11k 34% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,107±$69 26% below CT |
$994±$860Lowest 33% below CT |
$1,063±$68 29% below CT |
$1,253±$68Highest 16% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,633Lowest 30% below CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$4,678 30% below CT |
$4,703 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
48.8%±46.4Lowest 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% |
2.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
16.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 47.4% CT: 66.5% |
95.7%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 |
1978Highest 11 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 |
34 minHighest 29% above CT |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
24 min 9% below CT |
| Work from home | 6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
15.4%±3.3Highest CT: 16% |
6.2%±2 CT: 16% |
7.2%±2 CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #143 of 149 in CT | #48 of 149 in CT | — | #133 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Monroe School District | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | Masuk High School | — | Norwich Free Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
12.8 |
— | 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.