Compare towns
Lisbon vs Bethlehem vs Preston vs Norwich
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lisbon has the most homeowners (97.9%).
Bethlehem has the most people working from home (13.9%).
Preston has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Norwich has the most renters (46.2% rent).
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 | Lisbon | Bethlehem | Preston | Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,211 |
3,423Lowest |
4,821 |
39,973Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | -0.9% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 44.5±5.2 8% above CT |
51.5±8.5Highest 25% above CT |
46.2±7 12% above CT |
38.5±1.7Lowest 6% below CT |
| Bethlehem and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.1%±6.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.3%±4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4 CT: 20.2% |
20.9%±1.8 CT: 20.2% |
| Lisbon and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±4.3 CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
23%±4.7 CT: 18.5% |
16.9%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bethlehem and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
39.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
28.5% CT: 42.5% |
23.1% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.2Highest 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 | $92,708±$12k 3% below CT |
$108,929±$16k 14% above CT |
$116,648±$27kHighest 22% above CT |
$65,024±$5kLowest 32% below CT |
| Preston and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $315,700±$26k 14% below CT |
$410,900±$36kHighest 12% above CT |
$361,900±$13k about the CT average |
$242,300±$11kLowest 34% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,127±$124Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,433±$1kHighest 4% below CT |
$1,253±$68 16% below CT |
| Preston and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,044Lowest 39% below CT |
$5,932Highest 11% below CT |
$4,749 29% below CT |
$4,703 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±75.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5 CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
56.2%±7.2 CT: 52.6% |
| Lisbon and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.6% CT: 10% |
10.4% CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
16.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
70.2% CT: 66.5% |
91.7% CT: 66.5% |
53.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1957Lowest 10 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
24 min 9% below CT |
| Work from home | 8.3%±3.4 CT: 16% |
13.9%±5Highest CT: 16% |
10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
7.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
| Bethlehem 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 | #102 of 149 in CT | #82 of 149 in CT | #93 of 149 in CT | #133 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Lisbon School District | Regional School District 14 | Preston School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Norwich Free Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 14.8 |
| 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.