Compare towns
Norfolk vs Sharon 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 youngest population (median age 48.2).
Sharon has the most expensive homes ($591k 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 | Sharon | Canaan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,723 |
2,723Highest |
1,175Lowest |
| Median age | 48.2±7.4Lowest 17% above CT |
59.5±6Highest 45% above CT |
54.2±3.2 32% above CT |
| Sharon and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±4.8Highest CT: 20.2% |
7.2%±3.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
14.6%±3.4 CT: 20.2% |
| Norfolk and Canaan 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% |
37.9%±9.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
27.5%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Sharon 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%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
56.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
49.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
3.5%±2.5 CT: 7.1% |
12%±8.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Canaan and Sharon 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 |
$100,518±$15kHighest 5% above CT |
$89,632±$25kLowest 6% below CT |
| Sharon 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±$54kLowest 17% above CT |
$590,700±$156kHighest 61% above CT |
$469,400±$33k 28% above CT |
| Sharon and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$116Lowest 20% below CT |
$1,750±$1k 18% above CT |
$1,830±$307Highest 23% above CT |
| Canaan and Sharon 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 |
$4,484Lowest 33% below CT |
$6,331Highest 5% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.3%±17Lowest CT: 52.6% |
64%±16.2 CT: 52.6% |
67.1%±26Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Canaan and Sharon 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% |
10.8% CT: 10% |
16%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% CT: 66.5% |
72.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
83.8%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 29 yrs older than CT |
1954Highest 13 yrs older than CT |
1944 23 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 3% above CT |
30 minHighest 13% above CT |
17 minLowest 37% below CT |
| Work from home | 23.3%±4.7 CT: 16% |
18.7%±6.8Lowest 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 | |||
| School district | Norfolk School District | Sharon School District | Canaan School District · Regional School District 01 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Housatonic Valley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.4 |
| 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.