Compare towns

Windham vs Willimantic vs Cornwall vs Norwich

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
Cornwall has the most people working from home (32.4%).
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.

MeasureWindhamWillimanticCornwallNorwich
People
Population
23,961
18,096
1,425Lowest
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
31.3±2.7Lowest
24% below CT
53.9±5.1Highest
31% above CT
38.5±1.7
6% below CT
Kids under 18
20.1%±2.4
CT: 20.2%
20.6%±2.5
CT: 20.2%
14.9%±2.8Lowest
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%
11%±1.7Lowest
CT: 18.5%
29.4%±2.5Highest
CT: 18.5%
16.9%±1.7
CT: 18.5%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
22.7%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
24.2%
CT: 42.5%
59.1%Highest
CT: 42.5%
23.1%
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
15.2%±1.8
CT: 7.1%
19.1%±2.1Highest
CT: 7.1%
4.9%±3Lowest
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
$45,962±$7kLowest
52% below CT
$128,864±$34kHighest
35% above CT
$65,024±$5k
32% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$209,800±$9k
43% below CT
$190,900±$17kLowest
48% below CT
$554,600±$106kHighest
51% above CT
$242,300±$11k
34% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,107±$69
26% below CT
$1,063±$68
29% below CT
$1,047±$121Lowest
30% below CT
$1,253±$68Highest
16% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,633Lowest
30% below CT
$4,678
30% below CT
$5,792Highest
13% below CT
$4,703
29% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57.1%±8.1Highest
CT: 52.6%
55.9%±8.1
CT: 52.6%
46.8%±31.9Lowest
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%
23.4%Highest
CT: 10%
8.2%Lowest
CT: 10%
16.7%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
47.4%
CT: 66.5%
34.9%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
87.3%Highest
CT: 66.5%
53.8%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1956
11 yrs older than CT
1953Lowest
14 yrs older than CT
1959Highest
8 yrs older than CT
1957
10 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
8% below CT
23 minLowest
12% below CT
30 minHighest
13% above CT
24 min
9% below CT
Work from home
6.1%±1.7Lowest
CT: 16%
6.2%±2
CT: 16%
32.4%±13.6Highest
CT: 16%
7.2%±2
CT: 16%
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 — Cornwall 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.