Living in Norfolk, CT
Norfolk is a Litchfield County town of 1,601 residents on 45.34 square miles, with a historic village green, three state parks and the Norfolk Chamber Music Festival.
Norfolk at a glance
- Median sale price
- $400,000+4.7% vs last year 20 sales, last 12 months
- Property tax rate
- 22.49 mills town-wide, FY2027
- Estimated yearly tax
- ~$6,300 median-priced home
- Population
- 1,601 2024 Census estimate
- Land area
- 45.3 sq mi 35 per sq mi
What it is like in Norfolk
Norfolk is in the Litchfield Hills of northwestern Connecticut and borders Colebrook, Canaan, North Canaan, Goshen and Cornwall. It covers 45.34 square miles of land and had a population of 1,601 in our latest figures. Its elevation of about 1,230 feet gives it the nickname the Icebox of Connecticut.
The town was incorporated in 1758 and named for Norfolk, England. The Norfolk Historic District covers the historic village center, including the 1888 Norfolk Library, and the architect Alfredo S. G. Taylor designed more than thirty buildings here in the four decades before World War II.
Principal communities are Norfolk Center, North Norfolk, South Norfolk and West Norfolk.
Norfolk has three state parks. Haystack Mountain State Park has a stone tower at its summit, Dennis Hill State Park holds the remains of a summer pavilion, and Campbell Falls State Park Reserve has a waterfall of about 100 feet. Other listed outdoor places include Great Mountain Forest, Wolcott Preserve, Pine Mountain Preserve, Bigelow Park, North Green and Wood Creek Pond Boat Launch.
The Norfolk Chamber Music Festival, hosted by the Yale School of Music, holds concerts in the Music Shed on Litchfield Road; the 2026 chamber music session ran July 5 to August 16. Infinity Music Hall & Bistro on Greenwoods Road West hosts concerts through the year. Berkshire Country Store and Icebox Cafe are both on Station Place.
Getting around from Norfolk
| Drive to | Time | Miles |
|---|---|---|
| Hartford | 61 min | 35 |
| New Haven | 86 min | 60 |
| Stamford | 121 min | 90 |
| New York City (Midtown) | 171 min | 121 |
| Boston | 183 min | 135 |
| Providence | 160 min | 109 |
| Bradley Airport (BDL) | 70 min | 36 |
Rail
No passenger rail station within 8 miles.
Highways and routes
U.S. Route 44 runs east-west through town, about 7 miles west to North Canaan and 10 miles southeast to Winsted. Route 272 runs north-south and reaches Torrington, 15 miles to the south.
Hartford is 35 miles and about 61 minutes away by car, and Bradley Airport is 36 miles and 70 minutes. New Haven is 60 miles and 86 minutes, New York City (Midtown) is 121 miles and 171 minutes, and Boston is 135 miles and 183 minutes. We found no rail station listed for the town.
Schools in Norfolk
1 public school in Norfolk School District. Which one serves an address depends on the district, so confirm with them.
Elementary 1
- Botelle
Grades, number of students. Hover a school for its address.
For report cards, enrollment trends and spending per student, look up Norfolk School District on the state's EdSight site.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Common Core of Data. We do not rate or rank schools.
Eat, drink and explore in Norfolk
Open Norfolk in Google Maps →Eat and drink 2
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Deli and general store serving breakfast, coffee, sandwiches and pizza, with takeout, catering and groceries.
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Cafe in the former railroad station serving oatmeal, pastries, sandwiches, soup, loaf breads, coffee and tea.
Things to do and see 4
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Live music venue with a bistro, housed in the 1880s Village Hall building with an upstairs opera house.
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Summer chamber music series run by the Yale School of Music, with concerts in the Music Shed from July into August.
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Local history museum in the former Norfolk Academy building of 1840 on the Village Green, with exhibits and an annual cake auction.
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Shingle-style library built in 1888 and 1889 and designed by George Keller, across Route 44 from the village green.
Parks, preserves and trails 15
Parks and open space © OpenStreetMap contributors. Places to eat and visit last checked October 2026. These are not paid placements; they are simply our selection. Hours and menus change, so check before you go.
Norfolk housing market
Over the last 12 months, 20 homes sold in Norfolk with a median sale price of $400,000 and a median of 27 days on market. There are 13 homes for sale right now.
Homes sold for a median of $195 per square foot. The typical home sold for 95% of its list price, and the median sale price is up 4.7% from the year before. At the current pace of sales, the homes for sale would last about 7.8 months.
Norfolk's town-wide property tax rate is 22.49 mills (FY2027). Connecticut assesses homes at 70% of market value, so a median-priced home pays roughly $6,300 a year. Special taxing districts, such as fire districts, can add to this, and a home's actual assessment may differ from its sale price.
Source: SmartMLS, residential sales (single-family, condo and multi-family); mill rates: Connecticut Office of Policy and Management. Updated November 10, 2026.
Homes for sale in Norfolk
See all 13 →
Know before you move
Official and independent sources worth bookmarking if you are considering Norfolk.
Questions about Norfolk
What is the median home price in Norfolk, CT?
The median sale price in Norfolk is $400,000, based on 20 home sales in the last 12 months (SmartMLS). Updated November 10, 2026.
What is the property tax rate in Norfolk, CT?
Norfolk's town-wide property tax rate is 22.49 mills (fiscal year 2027). Connecticut assesses homes at 70% of market value, so a median-priced home pays roughly $6,300 a year. Special taxing districts can add to this.
How far is Norfolk, CT from Hartford?
Norfolk is about 35 miles and a 61-minute drive from downtown Hartford, measured from the town center without traffic.
How far is Norfolk, CT from New York City?
Norfolk is about 121 miles from Midtown Manhattan, roughly a 171-minute drive without traffic.
What is the population of Norfolk, CT?
Norfolk has about 1,601 residents (U.S. Census Bureau estimate, 2024) and covers 45.3 square miles.
How many public schools are in Norfolk, CT?
Norfolk has 1 public school in Norfolk School District. Which school serves an address depends on the district's boundaries, so confirm with the district.
How many homes are for sale in Norfolk, CT?
There are 13 homes for sale in Norfolk right now, per SmartMLS, as of November 10, 2026.
Which state parks are in Norfolk?
Haystack Mountain State Park, Dennis Hill State Park and Campbell Falls State Park Reserve.
What is the Norfolk Chamber Music Festival?
It is an annual summer chamber music series hosted by the Yale School of Music, with concerts in the Music Shed on Litchfield Road.
Why is Norfolk called the Icebox of Connecticut?
At about 1,230 feet, it has long winters and cool summers.
Which towns border Norfolk?
Colebrook, Canaan, North Canaan, Goshen and Cornwall.
How far is Norfolk from Hartford?
Hartford is 35 miles away, about 61 minutes by car.
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