Compare towns
Lisbon vs Norwich vs Suffield vs Sterling
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%).
Norwich has the most renters (46.2% rent).
Suffield has the most people working from home (18.4%).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
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 | Norwich | Suffield | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,211 |
39,973Highest |
15,702 |
3,629Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -0.9% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 44.5±5.2Highest 8% above CT |
38.5±1.7Lowest 6% below CT |
44.5±1.7Highest 8% above CT |
39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 22.1%±6.4 CT: 20.2% |
20.9%±1.8 CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.9%±1.7 CT: 18.5% |
18.4%±2.2 CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Lisbon and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.2% CT: 42.5% |
23.1% CT: 42.5% |
40.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Norwich and Suffield 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 |
$65,024±$5kLowest 32% below CT |
$119,472±$13kHighest 25% above CT |
$102,695±$12k 7% above CT |
| Suffield and Sterling 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 |
$242,300±$11kLowest 34% below CT |
$407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,253±$68Lowest 16% below CT |
$1,424±$141Highest 4% below CT |
— |
| Suffield 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 |
$4,703 29% below CT |
$6,456Highest about the CT average |
$4,551 31% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±75.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
56.2%±7.2 CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Lisbon and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.6% CT: 10% |
16.7%Highest CT: 10% |
4.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
53.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.7% CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1957Lowest 10 yrs older than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above CT |
24 minLowest 9% below CT |
26 min 3% below CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
| Work from home | 8.3%±3.4 CT: 16% |
7.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
| Suffield and Sterling 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 | #133 of 149 in CT | #57 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Lisbon School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District | Suffield School District | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Norwich Free Academy | Suffield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.8Highest |
10.9Lowest |
— |
| 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.