Compare towns
Norfolk vs Chaplin vs Putnam 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 most people working from home (23.3%).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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 | Chaplin | Putnam | Colebrook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,723 |
2,070 |
9,292Highest |
1,494Lowest |
| Median age | 48.2±7.4 17% above CT |
43.7±4.8Lowest 6% above CT |
43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
52.1±5Highest 27% above CT |
| Colebrook and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±4.8 CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
17.9%±3.9 CT: 20.2% |
| Putnam and Colebrook 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% |
20.9%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26%±4.2 CT: 18.5% |
| Norfolk and Colebrook 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% |
25.4% CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
36.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin 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 |
$97,846±$14k about the CT average |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$111,250±$17kHighest 16% above CT |
| Colebrook and Chaplin 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 |
$255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
$269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
$342,800±$19k 7% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$116 20% below CT |
$1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,333±$626 10% below CT |
| Chaplin and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,065 9% below CT |
$4,524 32% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$6,211Highest 7% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.3%±17Lowest CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
42.1%±55Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Colebrook and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.5% CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% CT: 66.5% |
82.9% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
91.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 29 yrs older than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1960 7 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 3% above CT |
32 min 22% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
34 minHighest 29% above CT |
| Work from home | 23.3%±4.7Highest CT: 16% |
18.1%±10 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
7%±3.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Norfolk and Chaplin 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 | — | — | #128 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Norfolk School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Putnam School District | Colebrook School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Parish Hill High School | Putnam High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.5Lowest |
9.5Highest |
— |
| 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.