Compare towns
Norfolk vs Bethlehem vs North Canaan
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Norfolk has the most people working from home (23.3%).
Bethlehem has the highest household income ($109k).
North Canaan has the most kids (26.5% 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 | Norfolk | Bethlehem | North Canaan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,723Lowest |
3,423Highest |
3,221 |
| Median age | 48.2±7.4 17% above CT |
51.5±8.5Highest 25% above CT |
35.7±5.7Lowest 13% below CT |
| Bethlehem and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±4.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
16.3%±4 CT: 20.2% |
26.5%±7.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| North Canaan and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.8%±3.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±5.3 CT: 18.5% |
14.4%±3.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Norfolk and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
39.2% CT: 42.5% |
23.4%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.3%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
| Bethlehem and North Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,548±$16k 4% below CT |
$108,929±$16kHighest 14% above CT |
$71,976±$26kLowest 25% below CT |
| Bethlehem and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $430,900±$54kHighest 17% above CT |
$410,900±$36k 12% above CT |
$267,300±$59kLowest 27% below CT |
| Norfolk and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$116Highest 20% below CT |
$1,127±$124Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,146±$152 23% below CT |
| Norfolk and North Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,065Highest 9% below CT |
$5,932 11% below CT |
$3,893Lowest 41% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.3%±17 CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
25.1%±14.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.5%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.4% CT: 10% |
13.4%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
70.2% CT: 66.5% |
61.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 29 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 3% above CT |
29 minHighest 9% above CT |
22 minLowest 15% below CT |
| Work from home | 23.3%±4.7Highest CT: 16% |
13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
12.1%±5.3Lowest CT: 16% |
| Norfolk and Bethlehem 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 | — | #82 of 149 in CT | #91 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Norfolk School District | Regional School District 14 | North Canaan School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.