Compare towns
Norfolk vs Windham vs Colebrook 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%).
Windham has the most renters (52.6% rent).
Colebrook has the most homeowners (91.6%).
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 | Windham | Colebrook | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,723 |
23,961Highest |
1,494Lowest |
3,676 |
| Median age | 48.2±7.4 17% above CT |
33.7±1.9Lowest 18% below CT |
52.1±5Highest 27% above CT |
49.9±5.5 21% above CT |
| Colebrook and Washington 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% |
20.1%±2.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
17.9%±3.9 CT: 20.2% |
19%±4.7 CT: 20.2% |
| Windham 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% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26%±4.2 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% |
22.7%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
36.6% CT: 42.5% |
53.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
6.4%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,548±$16k 4% below CT |
$55,736±$5kLowest 42% below CT |
$111,250±$17kHighest 16% above CT |
$101,549±$16k 6% above CT |
| Colebrook 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 |
$209,800±$9kLowest 43% below CT |
$342,800±$19k 7% below CT |
$660,200±$130kHighest 80% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$116 20% below CT |
$1,107±$69Lowest 26% below CT |
$1,333±$626Highest 10% below CT |
$1,204±$264 19% below CT |
| Colebrook and Washington 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 |
$4,633Lowest 30% below CT |
$6,211Highest 7% below CT |
$4,709 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.3%±17 CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.1%±55 CT: 52.6% |
26.1%±24Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Windham and Colebrook 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% |
20.7%Highest CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% CT: 66.5% |
47.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
91.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
79% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 29 yrs older than CT |
1956 11 yrs older than CT |
1960 7 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 3% above CT |
24 minLowest 8% below CT |
34 minHighest 29% above CT |
26 min 4% below CT |
| Work from home | 23.3%±4.7Highest CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
7%±3.8 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 | — | #143 of 149 in CT | — | #17 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Norfolk School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Colebrook School District | Regional School District 12 |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | None in town | Shepaug Valley School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Highest |
— | 9.1Lowest |
| 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.