Compare towns
Preston vs Orange 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 shortest commute (22 min average).
Orange has the most people working from home (15.6%).
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.
| Measure | Preston | Orange | Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,821Lowest |
14,315 |
39,973Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
-0.9%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 46.2±7Highest 12% above CT |
45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
38.5±1.7Lowest 6% below CT |
| Preston and Orange 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% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.9%±1.8 CT: 20.2% |
| Orange and Norwich 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% |
23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.9%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5% CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
23.1%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Norwich and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $116,648±$27k 22% above CT |
$142,325±$10kHighest 49% above CT |
$65,024±$5kLowest 32% below CT |
| Orange and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,900±$13k about the CT average |
$491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
$242,300±$11kLowest 34% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,433±$1k 4% below CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,253±$68Lowest 16% below CT |
| Orange 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 |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$4,703Lowest 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±12.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
56.2%±7.2 CT: 52.6% |
| Orange 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 CT: 10% |
3.9% CT: 10% |
16.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
89.2% 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 minLowest 17% below CT |
28 minHighest 4% above CT |
24 min 9% below CT |
| Work from home | 10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9Highest CT: 16% |
7.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
| Orange 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 | #38 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 | 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.