Compare towns
Colebrook vs Suffield vs Putnam 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).
Suffield has the highest household income ($119k).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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 | Suffield | Putnam | Norfolk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,494Lowest |
15,702Highest |
9,292 |
1,723 |
| Median age | 52.1±5Highest 27% above CT |
44.5±1.7 8% above CT |
43.7±3Lowest 6% 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% |
16.2%±2 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.8%±4.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Putnam 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% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 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% |
40.4% CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
48.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
2.1%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Colebrook and Suffield 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 |
$119,472±$13kHighest 25% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$91,548±$16k 4% below CT |
| Suffield 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 7% below CT |
$407,500±$26k 11% above CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$430,900±$54kHighest 17% above CT |
| Norfolk and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$626 10% below CT |
$1,424±$141Highest 4% below CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,190±$116 20% below CT |
| Suffield and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,211 7% below CT |
$6,456Highest about the CT average |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$6,065 9% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±55 CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
27.3%±17Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Suffield and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% CT: 10% |
4.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
7.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
86.7% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 7 yrs older than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1938Lowest 29 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above CT |
26 min 3% below CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
27 min 3% above CT |
| Work from home | 7%±3.8Lowest CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
23.3%±4.7Highest CT: 16% |
| Norfolk and Suffield 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 | — | #57 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Colebrook School District | Suffield School District | Putnam School District | Norfolk School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Suffield High School | Putnam High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9Highest |
9.5Lowest |
— |
| 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.