Compare towns
Norfolk vs Cornwall vs Colebrook 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 youngest population (median age 48.2).
Cornwall has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Colebrook has the most affordable homes ($343k 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 | Norfolk | Cornwall | Colebrook | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,723 |
1,425Lowest |
1,494 |
3,676Highest |
| Median age | 48.2±7.4Lowest 17% above CT |
53.9±5.1Highest 31% above CT |
52.1±5 27% above CT |
49.9±5.5 21% above CT |
| Cornwall 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% |
14.9%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
17.9%±3.9 CT: 20.2% |
19%±4.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Washington and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.8%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
29.4%±2.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
26%±4.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26.9%±5.3 CT: 18.5% |
| Cornwall and Norfolk 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% |
59.1%Highest CT: 42.5% |
36.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
53.7% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±3 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
6.4%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Washington 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±$16kLowest 4% below CT |
$128,864±$34kHighest 35% above CT |
$111,250±$17k 16% above CT |
$101,549±$16k 6% above CT |
| Cornwall and Colebrook 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 |
$554,600±$106k 51% above CT |
$342,800±$19kLowest 7% below CT |
$660,200±$130kHighest 80% above CT |
| Washington and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$116 20% below CT |
$1,047±$121Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,333±$626Highest 10% below CT |
$1,204±$264 19% below CT |
| Colebrook and Washington 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 |
$5,792 13% below CT |
$6,211Highest 7% below CT |
$4,709Lowest 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.3%±17 CT: 52.6% |
46.8%±31.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.1%±55 CT: 52.6% |
26.1%±24Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Cornwall 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% |
8.2% CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
9%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% CT: 66.5% |
87.3% CT: 66.5% |
91.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
79%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 29 yrs older than CT |
1959 8 yrs older than CT |
1960 7 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 3% above CT |
30 min 13% above CT |
34 minHighest 29% above CT |
26 minLowest 4% below CT |
| Work from home | 23.3%±4.7 CT: 16% |
32.4%±13.6Highest CT: 16% |
7%±3.8Lowest CT: 16% |
20.1%±9 CT: 16% |
| Cornwall 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 | Cornwall School District | Colebrook School District | Regional School District 12 |
| High school in town | None in town | None 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 | 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.