Compare towns
Norwich vs Hampton vs Preston vs Meriden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Norwich has the most renters (46.2% rent).
Hampton has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Preston has the most expensive homes ($362k median).
Meriden has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
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 | Norwich | Hampton | Preston | Meriden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 39,973 |
1,647Lowest |
4,821 |
60,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
— | — | 0%Highest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 38.5±1.7Lowest 6% below CT |
51.5±5.3Highest 25% above CT |
46.2±7 12% above CT |
38.9±1.3 5% below CT |
| Hampton and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±1.8 CT: 20.2% |
19.7%±5.3 CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
21.9%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Meriden and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±1.7 CT: 18.5% |
26.1%±2.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
23%±4.7 CT: 18.5% |
16.2%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Hampton and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.1% CT: 42.5% |
29.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
28.5% CT: 42.5% |
22.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±0.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $65,024±$5kLowest 32% below CT |
$109,167±$19k 14% above CT |
$116,648±$27kHighest 22% above CT |
$71,253±$4k 26% below CT |
| Preston and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,300±$11k 34% below CT |
$295,800±$27k 19% below CT |
$361,900±$13kHighest about the CT average |
$241,200±$7kLowest 34% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,253±$68Lowest 16% below CT |
$1,285±$288 14% below CT |
$1,433±$1kHighest 4% below CT |
$1,294±$72 13% below CT |
| Preston and Meriden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,703 29% below CT |
$4,364Lowest 34% below CT |
$4,749 29% below CT |
$5,129Highest 23% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.2%±7.2Highest CT: 52.6% |
52.5%±51.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5 CT: 52.6% |
53.4%±4.9 CT: 52.6% |
| Norwich and Meriden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.7%Highest CT: 10% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
13.2% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
90% CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
60.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 10 yrs older than CT |
1980Highest 13 yrs newer than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1960 7 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below CT |
29 minHighest 9% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
23 min 13% below CT |
| Work from home | 7.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
17.7%±5.1Highest CT: 16% |
10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
8.6%±1.6 CT: 16% |
| Hampton and Preston 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 | #133 of 149 in CT | — | #93 of 149 in CT | #124 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District | Hampton School District | Preston School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Meriden School District |
| High school in town | Norwich Free Academy | None in town | None in town | Francis T. Maloney High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Lowest |
— | — | 16.2Highest |
| 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.