Compare towns
Norfolk vs Mansfield 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 homeowners (81.1%).
Mansfield has the youngest population (median age 21.2).
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k median).
Mansfield is a college town. 57% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Mansfield | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,723Lowest |
25,358Highest |
3,676 |
| Median age | 48.2±7.4 17% above CT |
21.2±0.2Lowest 48% below CT |
49.9±5.5Highest 21% above CT |
| Washington 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% |
9.2%±1.6Lowest 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% |
11%±1.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26.9%±5.3 CT: 18.5% |
| Norfolk and Washington 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% |
57.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
53.7% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
57%±2.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
6.4%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,548±$16k 4% below CT |
$72,393±$12kLowest 24% 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±$54k 17% above CT |
$335,400±$20kLowest 9% below CT |
$660,200±$130kHighest 80% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$116Lowest 20% below CT |
$1,602±$104Highest 8% above CT |
$1,204±$264 19% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,065Highest 9% below CT |
$5,727 14% below CT |
$4,709Lowest 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.3%±17 CT: 52.6% |
76%±9.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
26.1%±24Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Below poverty line | 7.5%Lowest CT: 10% |
21.6%Highest CT: 10% |
9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
57.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
79% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 29 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 3% above CT |
21 minLowest 22% below CT |
26 min 4% below CT |
| Work from home | 23.3%±4.7 CT: 16% |
28.3%±3.3Highest CT: 16% |
20.1%±9Lowest CT: 16% |
| Mansfield 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 | — | #45 of 149 in CT | #17 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Norfolk School District | Regional School District 19 · Mansfield School District | Regional School District 12 |
| High school in town | None in town | E. O. Smith High School | Shepaug Valley School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.8Highest |
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.