Compare towns
Preston vs Plainville 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 expensive homes ($362k median).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Plainville | Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,821Lowest |
17,551 |
39,973Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -0.9% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 46.2±7Highest 12% above CT |
44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
38.5±1.7Lowest 6% below CT |
| Preston and Plainville 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% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest 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% |
20.1%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
16.9%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Preston and Plainville 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% |
30%Highest CT: 42.5% |
23.1%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
| Plainville and Norwich 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 |
$84,343±$7k 12% below CT |
$65,024±$5kLowest 32% below CT |
| Preston and Plainville 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 |
$254,000±$14k 31% below CT |
$242,300±$11kLowest 34% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,433±$1kHighest 4% below CT |
$1,126±$147Lowest 24% 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 | $4,749 29% below CT |
$4,798Highest 28% below CT |
$4,703Lowest 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±12.5 CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest 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% |
6.5% CT: 10% |
16.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
67.7% 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 min 17% below CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
24 minHighest 9% below CT |
| Work from home | 10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
10.7%±2Highest CT: 16% |
7.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
| Plainville 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 | #89 of 149 in CT | #133 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Preston School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Plainville High School | Norwich Free Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Lowest |
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.