Compare towns
Bantam vs Mansfield vs Franklin vs Norfolk
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bantam has the most renters (50.9% rent).
Mansfield has the youngest population (median age 21.2).
Franklin has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
Norfolk has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Mansfield is a college town. 57% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Bantam | Mansfield | Franklin | Norfolk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 810Lowest |
25,358Highest |
2,004 |
1,723 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1% CT: +0.9% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 47.2±15.7 15% above CT |
21.2±0.2Lowest 48% below CT |
40.3±4.3 about the CT average |
48.2±7.4Highest 17% above CT |
| Norfolk and Bantam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.5 CT: 20.2% |
9.2%±1.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
27.2%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.8%±4.8 CT: 20.2% |
| Franklin and Bantam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.4%±8.5 CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
28.8%±3.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Norfolk and Bantam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
57.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
27.8% CT: 42.5% |
48.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.3 CT: 7.1% |
57%±2.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
2.1%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | — | $72,393±$12kLowest 24% below CT |
$105,000±$10kHighest 10% above CT |
$91,548±$16k 4% below CT |
| Franklin and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $317,700±$40kLowest 13% below CT |
$335,400±$20k 9% below CT |
$326,200±$20k 11% below CT |
$430,900±$54kHighest 17% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $688±$106Lowest 54% below CT |
$1,602±$104Highest 8% above CT |
$767±$529 48% below CT |
$1,190±$116 20% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,984 40% below CT |
$5,727 14% below CT |
$3,934Lowest 41% below CT |
$6,065Highest 9% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.3%±12.9 CT: 52.6% |
76%±9.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
19.5%±18.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
27.3%±17 CT: 52.6% |
| Mansfield and Bantam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.4% CT: 10% |
21.6%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
7.5%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
57.3% CT: 66.5% |
84.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 14 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1973 6 yrs newer than CT |
1938Lowest 29 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
21 minLowest 22% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
27 minHighest 3% above CT |
| Work from home | 16%±7.9 CT: 16% |
28.3%±3.3Highest CT: 16% |
6.8%±2.4Lowest CT: 16% |
23.3%±4.7 CT: 16% |
| Mansfield and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #45 of 149 in CT | — | — |
| School district | — | Regional School District 19 · Mansfield School District | Franklin School District | Norfolk School District |
| High school in town | — | E. O. Smith High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.8 |
— | — |
| 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.