Compare towns

Windham vs Suffield 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

Suffield has the most people working from home (18.4%).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
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.

MeasureWindhamSuffieldWillimanticNorwich
People
Population
23,961
15,702Lowest
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
44.5±1.7Highest
8% above CT
31.3±2.7Lowest
24% below CT
38.5±1.7
6% below CT
Kids under 18
20.1%±2.4
CT: 20.2%
16.2%±2Lowest
CT: 20.2%
20.6%±2.5
CT: 20.2%
20.9%±1.8Highest
CT: 20.2%
Norwich and Willimantic 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%
18.4%±2.2Highest
CT: 18.5%
11%±1.7Lowest
CT: 18.5%
16.9%±1.7
CT: 18.5%
Suffield 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%
40.4%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%
4.4%±1.2Lowest
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
$119,472±$13kHighest
25% above CT
$45,962±$7kLowest
52% below CT
$65,024±$5k
32% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$209,800±$9k
43% below CT
$407,500±$26kHighest
11% above CT
$190,900±$17kLowest
48% below CT
$242,300±$11k
34% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,107±$69
26% below CT
$1,424±$141Highest
4% below CT
$1,063±$68Lowest
29% below CT
$1,253±$68
16% below CT
Suffield and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,633Lowest
30% below CT
$6,456Highest
about the CT average
$4,678
30% below CT
$4,703
29% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57.1%±8.1Highest
CT: 52.6%
51%±4.6Lowest
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%
4.6%Lowest
CT: 10%
23.4%Highest
CT: 10%
16.7%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
47.4%
CT: 66.5%
86.7%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
1979Highest
12 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
26 minHighest
3% below CT
23 minLowest
12% below CT
24 min
9% below CT
Work from home
6.1%±1.7Lowest
CT: 16%
18.4%±4.1Highest
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 #57 of 149 in CT — #133 of 149 in CT
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Suffield School District — Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District
High school in town Windham High School Suffield High School — Norwich Free Academy
Students per teacherat that high school
9.8Lowest
10.9
—
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.