Norwich-New London-Willimantic cost of living
Prices in the Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT metro area run at 100.4 against a national average of 100, ranking it #79 of 387 metros. Rents there sit at 93.7.
What drives the number
Norwich-New London-Willimantic sits at 100.4, which is as close to the national average as this series gets. Places at the average are rarer than people assume, and it means a dollar here goes about as far as a dollar anywhere. Against Connecticut as a whole it is 3.2 points less expensive, which is the unusual direction, and it means the expensive part of the state is somewhere else.
The parts move together here rather than pulling against each other: goods at 97.3, rents at 93.7, other services at 148.6. That is less common than it sounds. In most places rents sit well away from the other two, and the overall figure is really a housing figure in disguise.
A salary offer here is worth less than the same offer somewhere at 100, and the parity is the arithmetic that says by how much. Divide the offer by 100.4 and multiply by 100 to get the nationally comparable figure.
The vertical line is the national average of 100. Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities, SARPP, 2024.
What the biggest local jobs are really worth
The same pay buys different amounts in different places, so a salary quoted in Norwich-New London-Willimantic is not comparable to one quoted elsewhere until it is divided by the local parity. These are the occupations that employ the most people here, with the quoted median alongside what that median is worth at national prices.
| Occupation | Employed | Median pay | Worth nationally | U.S. median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retail Salespersons | 3,440 | $34,900 | $34,761 | $34,580 |
| Cashiers | 2,970 | $33,680 | $33,546 | $31,190 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | 2,930 | $38,300 | $38,147 | $34,900 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 2,720 | $33,430 | $33,297 | $30,480 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | 2,540 | $36,290 | $36,145 | $33,760 |
| Registered Nurses | 2,440 | $100,840 | $100,438 | $93,600 |
| General and Operations Managers | 2,350 | $113,120 | $112,669 | $102,950 |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 2,200 | $34,820 | $34,681 | $35,930 |
Pay from the BLS metro survey, adjusted by dividing by the metro parity of 100.4.
Nearby metro areas
| Metro area | All items | Rents | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Haven | 104.6 | 124.3 | #32 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford | 102.7 | 110.2 | #49 |
| Waterbury-Shelton | 99.8 | 89.1 | #93 |
Norwich-New London-Willimantic: common questions
Is Norwich-New London-Willimantic expensive?
Prices are 0.4% above the national average, a parity of 100.4 where the country is 100. It ranks #79 of the 387 metro areas BEA measures. Against Connecticut as a whole it is 3.2 points less expensive.
What salary do you need in Norwich-New London-Willimantic?
The median worker there earns $54,670, which buys what $54,452 buys nationally once local prices are taken into account. Comparing a salary offer between cities without this adjustment is comparing nothing useful.
Is housing the reason?
Usually. Rents here are at 93.7 against goods at 97.3. Goods barely vary between American cities because most are shipped and priced nationally; housing varies enormously, and it dominates any cost of living comparison.