Compare towns
Preston vs Ansonia vs Norwich
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Preston has the most homeowners (91.7%).
Ansonia has the oldest housing (typical home built 1954).
Norwich has the most affordable homes ($242k 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 | Preston | Ansonia | Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,821Lowest |
19,033 |
39,973Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -1.7%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
-0.9%Highest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 46.2±7Highest 12% above CT |
40.1±1.6 about the CT average |
38.5±1.7Lowest 6% below CT |
| Preston and Ansonia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.4 CT: 20.2% |
18.3%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.9%±1.8Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Norwich and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.1%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
16.9%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Preston and Ansonia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
21.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
23.1% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
| Ansonia and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $116,648±$27kHighest 22% above CT |
$85,877±$10k 10% below CT |
$65,024±$5kLowest 32% below CT |
| Preston and Ansonia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,900±$13kHighest about the CT average |
$287,200±$14k 22% below CT |
$242,300±$11kLowest 34% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,433±$1k 4% below CT |
$1,476±$121Highest about the CT average |
$1,253±$68Lowest 16% below CT |
| Ansonia and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,749 29% below CT |
$5,446Highest 18% below CT |
$4,703Lowest 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±12.5 CT: 52.6% |
39.7%±10Lowest CT: 52.6% |
56.2%±7.2Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Norwich and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
9.4% CT: 10% |
16.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
58.1% CT: 66.5% |
53.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1954Lowest 13 yrs older than CT |
1957 10 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
24 min 9% below CT |
| Work from home | 10.3%±6Highest CT: 16% |
9.1%±2.9 CT: 16% |
7.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
| Preston and Ansonia 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 | #93 of 149 in CT | #142 of 149 in CT | #133 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Preston School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Ansonia School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Emmett O'Brien Technical High School | Norwich Free Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2Lowest |
14.8Highest |
| 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.