Compare towns
Norfolk vs Canaan vs Washington
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 affordable homes ($431k median).
Canaan has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Norfolk | Canaan | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,723 |
1,175Lowest |
3,676Highest |
| Median age | 48.2±7.4Lowest 17% above CT |
54.2±3.2Highest 32% above CT |
49.9±5.5 21% above CT |
| Canaan and Washington 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% |
19%±4.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Washington 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% |
26.9%±5.3Lowest 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%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
49.8% CT: 42.5% |
53.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
12%±8.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
6.4%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
| Canaan and Washington 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 |
$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 | $430,900±$54kLowest 17% above CT |
$469,400±$33k 28% above CT |
$660,200±$130kHighest 80% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$116Lowest 20% below CT |
$1,830±$307Highest 23% above CT |
$1,204±$264 19% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,065 9% below CT |
$6,331Highest 5% below CT |
$4,709Lowest 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.3%±17 CT: 52.6% |
67.1%±26Highest CT: 52.6% |
26.1%±24Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Canaan 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% |
16%Highest CT: 10% |
9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% CT: 66.5% |
83.8%Highest CT: 66.5% |
79%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 29 yrs older than CT |
1944 23 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 3% above CT |
17 minLowest 37% below CT |
26 min 4% below CT |
| Work from home | 23.3%±4.7 CT: 16% |
29.2%±13.5Highest CT: 16% |
20.1%±9Lowest CT: 16% |
| Canaan 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 | Canaan School District · Regional School District 01 | Regional School District 12 |
| High school in town | None in town | Housatonic Valley Regional High School | Shepaug Valley School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.4Highest |
9.1Lowest |
| 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.