What stands out worked out from the figures below

Preston has the highest household income ($86k).

Norwich has the most kids (25.2% under 18).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Preston	Norwich
People
Population	856Lowest	3,521Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-14.3%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-10%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	49.2±8.2Highest 24% above NY	41.9±6.6Lowest 5% above NY
	Preston and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.2%±3.1Lowest NY: 20.5%	25.2%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	21.8%±3.3Lowest NY: 17.9%	24.4%±5.4Highest NY: 17.9%
	Norwich and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	11.4%Lowest NY: 40.2%	15.5%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.1%±1.2Lowest NY: 7%	1.4%±1.2Highest NY: 7%
	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	$85,625±$11kHighest about the NY average	$63,226±$15kLowest 26% below NY
	Preston and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$122,300±$48kLowest 71% below NY	$127,100±$28kHighest 70% below NY
	Norwich and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,292±$173Highest 20% below NY	$1,031±$388Lowest 36% below NY
	Preston and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,800Highest 57% below NY	$2,456Lowest 63% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.5%±75.6Highest NY: 52.1%	40%±22.6Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Preston and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.2%Highest NY: 14%	4.3%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89%Lowest NY: 54.3%	91.2%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 20 yrs newer than NY	1978Lowest 19 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 27% below NY	18 minLowest 45% below NY
Work from home	11.1%±10.5Highest NY: 14.9%	10.2%±5.9Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Preston and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

NY 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.