Compare towns
Preston vs Hamden 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%).
Hamden has the most people working from home (16.3%).
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 | Hamden | Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,821Lowest |
61,045Highest |
39,973 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -0.9% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 46.2±7Highest 12% above CT |
38.7±0.9 6% below CT |
38.5±1.7Lowest 6% below CT |
| Preston and Hamden 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% |
17%±1.5Lowest 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%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
16.9%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Preston and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5% CT: 42.5% |
47.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
23.1%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $116,648±$27kHighest 22% above CT |
$98,306±$7k about the CT average |
$65,024±$5kLowest 32% below CT |
| Preston and Hamden 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 |
$298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
$242,300±$11kLowest 34% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,433±$1k 4% below CT |
$1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT |
$1,253±$68Lowest 16% below CT |
| Hamden 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 |
$7,784Highest 17% above CT |
$4,703Lowest 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±12.5 CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4Lowest 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% |
9.3% CT: 10% |
16.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
62.4% CT: 66.5% |
53.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1957Lowest 10 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
24 minHighest 9% below CT |
| Work from home | 10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1Highest CT: 16% |
7.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
| Hamden 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 | #122 of 149 in CT | #133 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Preston School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hamden High School | Norwich Free Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Lowest |
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.