Compare towns
Preston vs Lynn 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 most homeowners (91.7%).
Lynn has the most expensive homes ($510k median).
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 | Lynn | Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,821Lowest |
101,709Highest |
39,973 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +12.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.2±7Highest 19% above U.S. |
36.5±1.2Lowest 6% 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% |
24.1%±1.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 23%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.7%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Preston and Norwich 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±0.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Norwich and Lynn 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. |
$75,043±$3k 7% below U.S. |
$65,024±$5kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,900±$13k 9% above U.S. |
$510,100±$23kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$242,300±$11kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,433±$1k about the U.S. average |
$1,722±$60Highest 22% above U.S. |
$1,253±$68Lowest 11% below U.S. |
| Lynn and Preston 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. |
$5,384Highest 73% above U.S. |
$4,703Lowest 51% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±12.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60%±4.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.2%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lynn and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
48.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
53.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1946Lowest 34 yrs older than U.S. |
1957 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.3%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±1 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Preston and Lynn 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 | #277 of 282 in MA | #133 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Preston School District | Lynn | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Lynn English High | Norwich Free Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 15.0Highest |
14.8Lowest |
| 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.