Compare towns
Colebrook vs Putnam vs Sutton vs Norfolk
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Colebrook has the oldest population (median age 52.1).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
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 | Putnam | Sutton | Norfolk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,494Lowest |
9,292 |
9,452Highest |
1,723 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 52.1±5Highest 34% above U.S. |
43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
48.2±7.4 24% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sutton and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.8%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Colebrook and Putnam 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 38% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$91,548±$16k 13% above U.S. |
| Sutton 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±$19k 3% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$430,900±$54k 30% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$626Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,190±$116 16% below U.S. |
| Colebrook and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,211 99% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$6,065 94% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±55 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.3%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sutton and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.3%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Norfolk and Sutton 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 | — | #128 of 149 in CT | #105 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Colebrook School District | Putnam School District | Sutton | Norfolk School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Putnam High School | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5Lowest |
12.6Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.