Compare towns
New Preston vs Norfolk vs Washington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
New Preston has the most people working from home (32.3%).
Norfolk has the most affordable homes ($431k median).
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k 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 | New Preston | Norfolk | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,146Lowest |
1,723 |
3,676Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 51.8±12.8Highest 26% above CT |
48.2±7.4Lowest 17% above CT |
49.9±5.5 21% above CT |
| New Preston and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±7 CT: 20.2% |
15.8%±4.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19%±4.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Washington and New Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31.3%±5.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
28.8%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
26.9%±5.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| New Preston and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
48.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
53.7% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±4.7 CT: 7.1% |
2.1%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.4%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Washington and New Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,406±$28kLowest 20% below CT |
$91,548±$16k 4% below CT |
$101,549±$16kHighest 6% above CT |
| Washington and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $452,600±$43k 23% above CT |
$430,900±$54kLowest 17% above CT |
$660,200±$130kHighest 80% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,190±$116Lowest 20% below CT |
$1,204±$264Highest 19% below CT |
| Washington and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,528Lowest 47% below CT |
$6,065Highest 9% below CT |
$4,709 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 7.4%±89.8Lowest CT: 52.6% |
27.3%±17Highest CT: 52.6% |
26.1%±24 CT: 52.6% |
| Norfolk and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.8%Highest CT: 10% |
7.5%Lowest CT: 10% |
9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
79%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1938Lowest 29 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 8% above CT |
27 min 3% above CT |
26 minLowest 4% below CT |
| Work from home | 32.3%±28Highest CT: 16% |
23.3%±4.7 CT: 16% |
20.1%±9Lowest CT: 16% |
| New Preston and Norfolk 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 | — | — | #17 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Norfolk School District | Regional School District 12 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Shepaug Valley School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.1 |
| 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.