Compare towns
Preston vs Exeter vs Norwich
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Preston has the oldest population (median age 46.2).
Exeter has the most people working from home (17.2%).
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 | Exeter | Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,821Lowest |
7,195 |
39,973Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +0.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.2±7Highest 19% above U.S. |
37.7±5.9Lowest 3% below U.S. |
38.5±1.7 about the U.S. average |
| Preston and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Preston and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
11.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter 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 44% above U.S. |
$111,250±$30k 38% above U.S. |
$65,024±$5kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Preston and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,900±$13k 9% above U.S. |
$509,200±$43kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$242,300±$11kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,433±$1kHighest about the U.S. average |
$1,317±$307 7% below U.S. |
$1,253±$68Lowest 11% below U.S. |
| Preston and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,749 52% above U.S. |
$5,881Highest 89% above U.S. |
$4,703Lowest 51% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±12.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.2%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
53.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
22 min 15% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.3%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter 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 | #93 of 149 in CT | #14 of 38 in RI | #133 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Preston School District | Exeter-West Greenwich | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Norwich Free Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.8 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.