Compare towns

Norfolk vs Windham vs Washington 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%).
Windham has the most renters (52.6% rent).
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k median).
Colebrook has the most homeowners (91.6%).

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.

MeasureNorfolkWindhamWashingtonColebrook
People
Population
1,723
23,961Highest
3,676
1,494Lowest
Median age
48.2±7.4
17% above CT
33.7±1.9Lowest
18% below CT
49.9±5.5
21% above CT
52.1±5Highest
27% 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%
19%±4.7
CT: 20.2%
17.9%±3.9
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%
26.9%±5.3
CT: 18.5%
26%±4.2
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%
53.7%Highest
CT: 42.5%
36.6%
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.1%±1.1Lowest
CT: 7.1%
15.2%±1.8Highest
CT: 7.1%
6.4%±3.3
CT: 7.1%
5.4%±1.8
CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$91,548±$16k
4% below CT
$55,736±$5kLowest
42% below CT
$101,549±$16k
6% above CT
$111,250±$17kHighest
16% 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
$660,200±$130kHighest
80% above CT
$342,800±$19k
7% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,190±$116
20% below CT
$1,107±$69Lowest
26% below CT
$1,204±$264
19% below CT
$1,333±$626Highest
10% 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
$4,709
29% below CT
$6,211Highest
7% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
27.3%±17
CT: 52.6%
57.1%±8.1Highest
CT: 52.6%
26.1%±24Lowest
CT: 52.6%
42.1%±55
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%
9%
CT: 10%
8.3%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.1%
CT: 66.5%
47.4%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
79%
CT: 66.5%
91.6%Highest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
29 yrs older than CT
1956
11 yrs older than CT
1971Highest
4 yrs newer than CT
1960
7 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
3% above CT
24 minLowest
8% below CT
26 min
4% below CT
34 minHighest
29% above CT
Work from home
23.3%±4.7Highest
CT: 16%
6.1%±1.7Lowest
CT: 16%
20.1%±9
CT: 16%
7%±3.8
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 Regional School District 12 Colebrook School District
High school in town None in town Windham High School Shepaug Valley School None in town
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.