What stands out worked out from the figures below

Preston has the highest household income ($117k).

Norwich has the most renters (46.2% rent).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Preston	Norwich
People
Population	4,821Lowest	39,973Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-0.9% CT: +0.9%
Median age	46.2±7Highest 12% above CT	38.5±1.7Lowest 6% below CT
	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 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%	16.9%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5%
	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 CT: 42.5%	23.1%Lowest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±2.4Lowest CT: 7.1%	5.6%±1.2Highest CT: 7.1%
	Norwich and Preston 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	$65,024±$5kLowest 32% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$361,900±$13kHighest about the CT average	$242,300±$11kLowest 34% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,433±$1kHighest 4% below CT	$1,253±$68Lowest 16% below CT
	Preston and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,749Highest 29% below CT	$4,703Lowest 29% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.6%±12.5Lowest 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%	16.7%Highest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.7%Highest CT: 66.5%	53.8%Lowest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970Highest 3 yrs newer than CT	1957Lowest 10 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 17% below CT	24 minHighest 9% below CT
Work from home	10.3%±6Highest CT: 16%	7.2%±2Lowest CT: 16%
	Preston and Norwich 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	#133 of 149 in CT
School district	Preston School District	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District
High school 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

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.