Compare towns
Colebrook vs Preston vs Norfolk
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Colebrook has the oldest population (median age 52.1).
Preston has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Norfolk has the most people working from home (23.3%).
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 | Colebrook | Preston | Norfolk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,494Lowest |
4,821Highest |
1,723 |
| Median age | 52.1±5Highest 27% above CT |
46.2±7Lowest 12% above CT |
48.2±7.4 17% above CT |
| Colebrook and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.9%±3.9 CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.8%±4.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Preston and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26%±4.2 CT: 18.5% |
23%±4.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
28.8%±3.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Norfolk and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.6% CT: 42.5% |
28.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
48.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
2.1%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Colebrook and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$17k 16% above CT |
$116,648±$27kHighest 22% above CT |
$91,548±$16kLowest 4% below CT |
| Preston and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $342,800±$19kLowest 7% below CT |
$361,900±$13k about the CT average |
$430,900±$54kHighest 17% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$626 10% below CT |
$1,433±$1kHighest 4% below CT |
$1,190±$116Lowest 20% below CT |
| Preston and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,211Highest 7% below CT |
$4,749Lowest 29% below CT |
$6,065 9% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±55 CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
27.3%±17Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Preston and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Highest CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
7.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6% CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
81.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 7 yrs older than CT |
1970Highest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1938Lowest 29 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
27 min 3% above CT |
| Work from home | 7%±3.8Lowest CT: 16% |
10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
23.3%±4.7Highest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #93 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Colebrook School District | Preston School District | Norfolk School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.