Compare towns
Norfolk vs Putnam vs Canaan
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 highest household income ($92k).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
Canaan has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Putnam | Canaan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,723 |
9,292Highest |
1,175Lowest |
| Median age | 48.2±7.4 17% above CT |
43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
54.2±3.2Highest 32% above CT |
| Canaan 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% |
18.6%±3.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
14.6%±3.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Putnam 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% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
27.5%±1.9 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% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
49.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
12%±8.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Canaan and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,548±$16kHighest 4% below CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$89,632±$25k 6% below CT |
| Norfolk and Canaan 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 |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$469,400±$33kHighest 28% above 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±$116 20% below CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,830±$307Highest 23% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,065 9% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$6,331Highest 5% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.3%±17Lowest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
67.1%±26Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Canaan and Putnam 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% |
11.5% CT: 10% |
16%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
83.8%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 29 yrs older than CT |
1961Highest 6 yrs older than CT |
1944 23 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 3% above CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
17 minLowest 37% below CT |
| Work from home | 23.3%±4.7 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
29.2%±13.5Highest 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 | — | #128 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Norfolk School District | Putnam School District | Canaan School District · Regional School District 01 |
| High school in town | None in town | Putnam High School | Housatonic Valley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5Highest |
9.4Lowest |
| 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.