Compare towns
Hampton vs Norwich vs Preston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Norwich has the most renters (46.2% rent).
Preston has the most expensive homes ($362k median).
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 | Hampton | Norwich | Preston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,647Lowest |
39,973Highest |
4,821 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -0.9% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 51.5±5.3Highest 25% above CT |
38.5±1.7Lowest 6% below CT |
46.2±7 12% above CT |
| Hampton and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±5.3 CT: 20.2% |
20.9%±1.8Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Norwich and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±2.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.9%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23%±4.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Hampton and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
23.1%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
28.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Norwich and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $109,167±$19k 14% above CT |
$65,024±$5kLowest 32% below CT |
$116,648±$27kHighest 22% above CT |
| Preston and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,800±$27k 19% below CT |
$242,300±$11kLowest 34% below CT |
$361,900±$13kHighest about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,285±$288 14% below CT |
$1,253±$68Lowest 16% below CT |
$1,433±$1kHighest 4% below CT |
| Preston and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,364Lowest 34% below CT |
$4,703 29% below CT |
$4,749Highest 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.5%±51.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
56.2%±7.2Highest CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5 CT: 52.6% |
| Norwich and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.7% CT: 10% |
16.7%Highest CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90% CT: 66.5% |
53.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 13 yrs newer than CT |
1957Lowest 10 yrs older than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above CT |
24 min 9% below CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
| Work from home | 17.7%±5.1Highest CT: 16% |
7.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
| Hampton and Preston 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 | — | #133 of 149 in CT | #93 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Hampton School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District | Preston School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Norwich Free Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.8 |
— |
| 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.