Compare towns
Preston vs Suffield vs Harwinton 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).
Suffield has the most people working from home (18.4%).
Harwinton has the highest household income ($130k).
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 | Suffield | Harwinton | Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,821Lowest |
15,702 |
5,575 |
39,973Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | -0.9% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 46.2±7Highest 12% above CT |
44.5±1.7 8% above CT |
46.1±4.3 12% above CT |
38.5±1.7Lowest 6% below CT |
| Preston and Harwinton 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% |
16.2%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20%±4.2 CT: 20.2% |
20.9%±1.8Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Norwich and Harwinton 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% |
18.4%±2.2 CT: 18.5% |
22.1%±3.5 CT: 18.5% |
16.9%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Preston and Harwinton 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% |
40.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
40.3% CT: 42.5% |
23.1%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.7%±2.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
| Harwinton 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±$27k 22% above CT |
$119,472±$13k 25% above CT |
$129,643±$18kHighest 35% above CT |
$65,024±$5kLowest 32% below CT |
| Harwinton and Suffield 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 |
$407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
$352,100±$16k 4% below CT |
$242,300±$11kLowest 34% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,433±$1k 4% below CT |
$1,424±$141 4% below CT |
$1,504±$200Highest about the CT average |
$1,253±$68Lowest 16% below CT |
| Harwinton 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 |
$6,456Highest about the CT average |
$5,503 17% below CT |
$4,703Lowest 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±12.5 CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
27.8%±27.9Lowest 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% |
4.6% CT: 10% |
4.8% CT: 10% |
16.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7% CT: 66.5% |
86.7% CT: 66.5% |
93%Highest CT: 66.5% |
53.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1957Lowest 10 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below CT |
26 minHighest 3% below CT |
26 minHighest 3% below CT |
24 min 9% below CT |
| Work from home | 10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
13.5%±4.7 CT: 16% |
7.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
| Suffield and Harwinton 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | #34 of 149 in CT | #133 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Preston School District | Suffield School District | Regional School District 10 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Suffield High School | None in town | Norwich Free Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9Lowest |
— | 14.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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