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Living in
Norwich.
About
Life in Norwich
If you're considering Norwich, understand that you're looking at a working-class city with real neighborhood character rather than a polished suburb. The housing is genuinely affordable by Connecticut standards—median homes around $242,000 and rent averaging $1,200—which matters if you're budget-conscious. The median household income sits at $64,000, so this isn't a wealthy enclave, but the cost of living reflects that reality.
Norwich at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
38.5 yrs
Poverty Rate
16.7%
Foreign-Born
13.6%
Broadband Internet
90.3%
of households
Population Growth
-0.4%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics13.6% foreign-born, most often from Haiti
Who lives in Norwich: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Norwich, the largest foreign-born group is from Haiti (23.2%), and 12.3% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
20.9%
of residents
65 and Older
16.9%
of residents
Households with Kids
27.8%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
35.3%
of households
Married Couples
30.9%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.32
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 16% below CT average
Rent, home values, and income in Norwich
In Norwich, rent runs 16% below the CT average, and home values are 34% below the CT average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
54.0%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
21.9%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
100.4
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$4,703
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
53.8%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1957
median year built
Vacant Homes
10.3%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $305,640 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.4 pts above CT average
Unemployment in Norwich
Unemployment in Norwich is 0.4 percentage points higher than the CT average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Norwich Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute24 min avg
How Norwich residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Norwich, most residents drive alone to work (76%), and 67% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 19 mi
Westerly State Airport (WST)
Regional airport · few flights20k passengers boarded in 2025
- 43 mi
Bradley International Airport (BDL)
Medium hub3.3M passengers boarded in 2025
- 80 mi
Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
Major hub21.0M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 35% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Norwich runs 35% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
215.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,032.8
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Norwich Police Department
Natural DisastersWinter Weather most common — 10 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
In New London County, which includes Norwich, the most common type is winter weather, with 10 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 10 | Winter Weather | $25,000 |
| 2024 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | $36,500 |
| 2023 | 7 | Flash Flood | $6,000 |
| 2022 | 11 | Winter Weather | $18,000 |
| 2021 | 17 | Thunderstorm Wind | $740,940 |
| 2020 | 12 | High Wind | $3.1M |
| 2019 | 16 | Strong Wind | $130,000 |
| 2018 | 17 | Winter Weather | $155,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
New London County, county-wide
Air Quality38 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in New London County, which includes Norwich, is typically good — 296 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
38
Good Days
296
per year
Moderate Days
60
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
New London County, county-wide
Climate82°F summers, 24°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Norwich has warm summers (avg high 82°F) and cold winters (avg low 24°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
59°/39°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
82°/62°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
64°/44°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
40°/24°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
52.2"
Annual Snowfall
27.8"
Hot Days/Year
15
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
124
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
120
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 38°F | 21°F | 3.89" |
| Feb | 41°F | 23°F | 3.75" |
| Mar | 48°F | 29°F | 5.09" |
| Apr | 59°F | 39°F | 4.71" |
| May | 70°F | 49°F | 3.64" |
| Jun | 78°F | 59°F | 4.27" |
| Jul | 84°F | 65°F | 3.63" |
| Aug | 83°F | 63°F | 4.41" |
| Sep | 76°F | 55°F | 4.79" |
| Oct | 64°F | 44°F | 4.86" |
| Nov | 53°F | 34°F | 4.17" |
| Dec | 43°F | 27°F | 4.97" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Norwich
Norwich has 1 hospital, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
7.8%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
William W Backus Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Windham Community Memorial Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 13.5 mi away · Willimantic
Natchaug Hospital
Psychiatric · 14.4 mi away · Mansfield Center
Lawrence & Memorial Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 14.7 mi away · New London
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education12.0:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Norwich
Norwich's student/teacher ratio is 12.0:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 23.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
13
within city limits
Private Schools
3
within city limits
College Degree Rate
23.1%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.0:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Norwich (within 15 miles)
Eastern Connecticut State University
13.7 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 3,418 students · in-state tuition $14,008 · 62% graduate · median earnings $60,748 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,937 students · in-state tuition $70,266 · 84% graduate · median earnings $82,225 (10 yrs after entry)
United States Coast Guard Academy
12 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 1,108 students · in-state tuition $0 · 88% graduate
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Roger Williams National Memorial, 40 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Norwich
Norwich has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Roger Williams National Memorial (40 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Roger Williams National Memorial
National Memorial
40 mi awayTouro Synagogue National Historic Site
National Historic Site
40 mi awayBlackstone River Valley National Historical Park
National Historical Park
43 mi awaySpringfield Armory National Historic Site
National Historic Site
46 mi awayNew England National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
56 mi awayNew Bedford Whaling National Historical Park
National Historical Park
60 mi awayFrederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site
National Historic Site
73 mi awayAdams National Historical Park
National Historical Park
74 mi awayPublic Libraries in Norwich
Otis Library
261 Main St., Norwich
Cities Near Norwich
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Norwich?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Norwich FAQ
Is Norwich, Connecticut affordable?⌄
Norwich's median rent is $1,253/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $65,024/year. Median home value is $242,300.
Is Norwich, Connecticut safe?⌄
Norwich's violent crime rate was 215 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1033 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Norwich, Connecticut?⌄
Norwich has an unemployment rate of 4.4%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Norwich, Connecticut?⌄
The cost of living in Norwich is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,253/month and median household income is $65,024/year. The median home value is $242,300. About 54% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Norwich, Connecticut?⌄
The average commute in Norwich is 24 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from