Compare towns
Preston vs Plainfield 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 highest household income ($117k).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
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 | Plainfield | Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,821Lowest |
15,141 |
39,973Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -0.9% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 46.2±7Highest 12% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
38.5±1.7 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% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
20.9%±1.8Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Norwich and Plainfield 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% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
16.9%±1.7 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% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
23.1% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $116,648±$27kHighest 22% above CT |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
$65,024±$5kLowest 32% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,900±$13kHighest about the CT average |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$242,300±$11kLowest 34% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,433±$1kHighest 4% below CT |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
$1,253±$68 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 |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$4,703 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±12.5 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest 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% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
16.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
53.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1957Lowest 10 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
24 min 9% below CT |
| Work from home | 10.3%±6Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
7.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
| Preston and Plainfield 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #133 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Preston School District | Plainfield School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Plainfield High School | Norwich Free Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3Lowest |
14.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.