Compare towns
Preston vs Sutton vs Lisbon vs Norwich
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Preston has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Lisbon has the most homeowners (97.9%).
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 | Sutton | Lisbon | Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,821 |
9,452 |
4,211Lowest |
39,973Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.2±7Highest 19% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
44.5±5.2 14% above U.S. |
38.5±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Preston and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
22.1%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Lisbon and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.3%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Preston and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$27k 44% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$92,708±$12k 15% above U.S. |
$65,024±$5kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Sutton 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 9% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$315,700±$26k 5% below U.S. |
$242,300±$11kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,433±$1kHighest about the U.S. average |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
— | $1,253±$68 11% below U.S. |
| 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 52% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$4,044Lowest 30% above U.S. |
$4,703 51% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±75.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.2%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lisbon 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
53.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.3%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.3%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #93 of 149 in CT | #105 of 282 in MA | #102 of 149 in CT | #133 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Preston School District | Sutton | Lisbon School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Sutton High School | None in town | Norwich Free Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Lowest |
— | 14.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.