Compare towns
Norfolk vs Putnam vs Suffield 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%).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Suffield has the highest household income ($119k).
Colebrook has the oldest population (median age 52.1).
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 | Suffield | Colebrook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,723 |
9,292 |
15,702Highest |
1,494Lowest |
| Median age | 48.2±7.4 17% above CT |
43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
44.5±1.7 8% 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%±4.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2 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% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest 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% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.4% CT: 42.5% |
36.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Colebrook and Suffield 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 |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$119,472±$13kHighest 25% above CT |
$111,250±$17k 16% above CT |
| Suffield 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±$54kHighest 17% above CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$407,500±$26k 11% above CT |
$342,800±$19k 7% below CT |
| Norfolk and Suffield 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 |
$1,424±$141Highest 4% below CT |
$1,333±$626 10% below CT |
| Suffield 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 |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$6,456Highest about the CT average |
$6,211 7% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.3%±17Lowest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.1%±55 CT: 52.6% |
| Suffield and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.5% CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
4.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.7% CT: 66.5% |
91.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 29 yrs older than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1960 7 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 3% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
26 min 3% below CT |
34 minHighest 29% above CT |
| Work from home | 23.3%±4.7Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1 CT: 16% |
7%±3.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Norfolk and Suffield 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Norfolk School District | Putnam School District | Suffield School District | Colebrook School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Putnam High School | Suffield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5Lowest |
10.9Highest |
— |
| 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.