Compare towns
Windham vs Willimantic vs Hamden 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).
Hamden has the most people working from home (16.3%).
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 | Willimantic | Hamden | Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,961 |
18,096Lowest |
61,045Highest |
39,973 |
| 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 |
38.7±0.9Highest 6% below CT |
38.5±1.7 6% below CT |
| Hamden and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±2.4 CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
17%±1.5Lowest 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% |
18.1%±1.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.9%±1.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Hamden 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% |
24.2% CT: 42.5% |
47.8%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% |
15%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.2Lowest 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 |
$98,306±$7kHighest about the CT average |
$65,024±$5k 32% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $209,800±$9k 43% below CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$298,200±$9kHighest 19% below CT |
$242,300±$11k 34% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,107±$69 26% below CT |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT |
$1,253±$68 16% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,633Lowest 30% below CT |
$4,678 30% below CT |
$7,784Highest 17% above 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% |
50.9%±5.4Lowest 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% |
9.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
16.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 47.4% CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
62.4%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 |
1964Highest 3 yrs older than CT |
1957 10 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 8% below CT |
23 min 12% below CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
24 min 9% below CT |
| Work from home | 6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
6.2%±2 CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1Highest CT: 16% |
7.2%±2 CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #143 of 149 in CT | — | #122 of 149 in CT | #133 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | — | Hamden High School | Norwich Free Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
— | 13.5 |
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.