Places › Connecticut › Norwich

Living in Norwich, CT

Small city in Connecticut

Norwich is a small city in Connecticut, home to about 40,000 people, with 415,000 living within 31 mi. Day to day, most trips are by car. Life moves at a relaxed pace, and homes are mostly apartments.

Is Norwich a good place to live? Pros and cons

👍 Pros

  • Mild summers: highs around 82°F
  • Great outdoors: plenty of parks
  • Easy flying: PVD is 37 mi away
  • Strong healthcare: 4 top-rated (4–5★) hospitals within 31 mi

👎 Cons

  • Higher taxes: about $3,118 state income tax per resident, 2.02% property tax
  • Fewer graduates: 23% of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher
  • Quieter on culture: few museums and attractions nearby
  • Weaker public schools: test results below the US average

Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how Norwich ranks against your own priorities.

Key facts

Population
40,000
415,000 within 31 mi
Winter / summer highs
41°F / 82°F
Average daily highs · 28″ snow a year
3-bedroom home
$324k
Typical value (Zillow)
3-bedroom rent
$2,410/mo
Incl. utilities (HUD)
Cost of living
100
US average = 100 (BEA)
Taxes
$3,118
State income tax per resident · 2.02% property tax
Safety
1.0× US
Violent crime vs US (FBI 2019)
Natural disasters
11 since 2000
Declared in the county · mainly flooding, hurricanes
Top-rated hospitals
4
4–5★ within 31 mi (CMS)
Public schools
Below average
Tests below US average · 13 students per teacher
Adults with a degree
23%
2 research universities within 31 mi
Nearest major airport
PVD
37 mi away

Living in Norwich: common questions

What is the cost of living in Norwich?

A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $324k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $2,410 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are close to the US average (index 100, where the US is 100).

What are taxes like in Norwich?

Connecticut collects about $3,118 in state income tax per resident, and homeowners here pay about 2.02% of their home's value in property tax each year.

Is Norwich safe?

Violent crime is close to the national rate (1.0× in FBI 2019 data).

How are the schools in Norwich?

Public schools in Norwich test below the US average in math and reading (2018–19 state tests, put on one national scale with NAEP), with about 13 students per teacher.

What is the weather like in Norwich?

Norwich has cold winters: winter days average around 41°F and summer days around 82°F, with roughly 28″ of snow a year.

Does Norwich get natural disasters?

Natural disaster risk is low, mainly from flooding and hurricanes: 11 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 0.14 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.

What is the nearest major airport to Norwich?

The nearest major airport is PVD, about 37 mi away.

How Norwich scores

Each bar compares Norwich with the other 1,990 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).

🏙️City sizeSmall city Major metroSmall town
🏘️Urban or quietSuburban Dense & urbanQuiet / rural
🚶Getting aroundMostly car Walk & transitCar essential
🌲Culture or natureNature on the doorstep Culture & nightlifeNature on the doorstep
🌡️ClimateCold winters Warm all yearLong, snowy winters
💰Cost of livingAverage cost Very expensiveVery affordable
⏱️PaceRelaxed Very fast-pacedSlow & calm
🤝CommunityPrivate AnonymousTight-knit community
🏡HousingMostly apartments ApartmentsHouses with yards
🏷️Affordable housingGood
💸Low taxesPoor
💼Job marketBelow average
🏥HealthcareExcellent
🏫SchoolsBelow average
🎓EducationBelow average
🧸Kids & familyAverage
🐕Dog-friendlyGood
⛰️OutdoorsExcellent
🎭CultureBelow average
👮SafetySafe
🌪️Few natural disastersGood
☀️SunnyBelow average
🌤️Mild summersExcellent
✈️AirportExcellent

Places like Norwich

These places have the most similar overall profile across all 24 aspects.

The circle is each place's all-round score out of 100: the average of its 15 quality scores, from red (poor) to green (excellent).

Groton, CTSmall city59 $454k$2,410/moVery safe Vernon, CTSmall city60 $354k$2,240/moVery safe Meriden, CTSmall city58 $350k$2,430/moVery safe Westfield, MASuburb58 $382k$2,130/moVery safe Kingston, NYSmall town52 $323k$2,250/moSafe Albany, ORSmall city53 $421k$2,030/moVery safe

Nearby

Groton, CTSmall city · 14 mi away59 $454k$2,410/moVery safe New London, CTSmall city · 15 mi away53 $340k$2,410/moSafe Glastonbury, CTSmall city · 26 mi away65 $505k$2,240/moVery safe Manchester, CTSmall city · 27 mi away57 $338k$2,240/moVery safe Vernon, CTSmall city · 28 mi away60 $354k$2,240/moVery safe Coventry, RISuburb · 28 mi away60 $477k$2,090/moVery safe

See all the best places to live in Connecticut.

Is Norwich right for you?

Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.

Take the free quiz →

Sources: US Census ACS 2019–2023, Census State Tax Collections FY2025, Zillow 3-bedroom ZHVI, HUD Fair Market Rents, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, FBI 2019, FEMA National Risk Index v1.20, OpenFEMA disaster declarations, NOAA Normals 1991–2020, NASA POWER, CMS, NCES IPEDS 2023, IMLS, OpenStreetMap. How scores work.