Compare towns
Norfolk vs Sterling 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 people working from home (23.3%).
Sterling has the most affordable homes ($283k 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 | Sterling | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,723Lowest |
3,629 |
3,676Highest |
| Median age | 48.2±7.4 17% above CT |
39.4±5.9Lowest 4% 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%±4.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
19%±4.7 CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Washington 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% |
13%±3.8Lowest 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% CT: 42.5% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
53.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
6.4%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Washington and Sterling 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 |
$102,695±$12kHighest 7% above CT |
$101,549±$16k 6% above CT |
| Sterling and Washington 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 |
$283,400±$17kLowest 23% below CT |
$660,200±$130kHighest 80% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$116Lowest 20% below CT |
— | $1,204±$264Highest 19% below CT |
| Washington and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,065Highest 9% below CT |
$4,551Lowest 31% below CT |
$4,709 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.3%±17 CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
26.1%±24Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Sterling and Norfolk 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% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
9%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
81.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
79%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 29 yrs older than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 3% above CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
26 minLowest 4% below CT |
| Work from home | 23.3%±4.7Highest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4Lowest CT: 16% |
20.1%±9 CT: 16% |
| Norfolk and Washington 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 | — | #119 of 149 in CT | #17 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Norfolk School District | Sterling School District | Regional School District 12 |
| High school 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 |
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.