Compare towns
Norfolk vs Canaan vs Colebrook
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 youngest population (median age 48.2).
Canaan has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Colebrook has the highest household income ($111k).
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 | Canaan | Colebrook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,723Highest |
1,175Lowest |
1,494 |
| Median age | 48.2±7.4Lowest 17% above CT |
54.2±3.2Highest 32% above CT |
52.1±5 27% above CT |
| Canaan and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±4.8 CT: 20.2% |
14.6%±3.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
17.9%±3.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Colebrook and Norfolk 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% |
27.5%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
26%±4.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Norfolk and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6% CT: 42.5% |
49.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
36.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
12%±8.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Canaan and Colebrook 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 |
$89,632±$25kLowest 6% below CT |
$111,250±$17kHighest 16% above CT |
| Colebrook 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±$54k 17% above CT |
$469,400±$33kHighest 28% above CT |
$342,800±$19kLowest 7% below CT |
| Canaan and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$116Lowest 20% below CT |
$1,830±$307Highest 23% above CT |
$1,333±$626 10% below CT |
| Canaan and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,065Lowest 9% below CT |
$6,331Highest 5% below CT |
$6,211 7% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.3%±17Lowest CT: 52.6% |
67.1%±26Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.1%±55 CT: 52.6% |
| Canaan and Colebrook 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% |
16%Highest CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
83.8% CT: 66.5% |
91.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 29 yrs older than CT |
1944 23 yrs older than CT |
1960Highest 7 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 3% above CT |
17 minLowest 37% below CT |
34 minHighest 29% above CT |
| Work from home | 23.3%±4.7 CT: 16% |
29.2%±13.5Highest CT: 16% |
7%±3.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Canaan and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Norfolk School District | Canaan School District · Regional School District 01 | Colebrook School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Housatonic Valley Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.4 |
— |
| 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.