French drain cost in Norwich, CT
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (60 linear ft)
- $620 – $2,150
- Per linear ft
- $10.50 – $36
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +3%
- US $1,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #115
- 1 = most expensive
Norwich homeowners pay roughly $620 to $2,150 to install a French drain at 60 linear ft, or $10.50 to $36 per linear ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Norwich is 3% higher. Construction laborers earn a median of $24.95 an hour in the Norwich area, 10% above the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 60 linear ft in Norwich, CT, standard level
$1,100 to $1,700
About $18 to $28.50 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 55% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $490 | $770 |
| Labor | $590 | $930 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $1,100 | $1,700 |
Cost breakdown for 60 linear ft in Norwich, CT
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $280 | $630 | $980 | 45% |
| Labor | $340 | $760 | $1,200 | 55% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $620 | $1,400 | $2,150 | 100% |
Why Norwich prices look the way they do
Labor is 55% of the midpoint bill here, against 52% nationally. The mix of trades behind this job is construction laborers (50%), operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (30%), pipelayers (20%). We weight each trade's local median wage by that share and compare it with the national median. In Norwich the blended ratio comes out at 1.09.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Norwich metro is 97.3 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 60 linear ft comes to $630, compared with $650 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (100.4) and land at $0 to $0.
Data note: 20% of the labor weighting for this project uses a national median because BLS has no published metro figure for that trade in Norwich. The wage table below marks each row.
Planning more than one job in Norwich?
Because every project leans on different trades, Norwich's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, sprinkler system runs +6% and concrete slab +1%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $7,400 – $13,800 | +3% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,600 – $10,600 | +4% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,550 – $3,450 | +5% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,500 – $5,250 | +1% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $4,250 – $10,600 | +6% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $37,800 – $118,000 | +5% |
Norwich against nearby metros and the rest of Connecticut
Of the five closest metros, none is cheaper than Norwich. Hartford comes closest at about $1,450.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Norwich, CTthis page | $620 – $2,150 | $1,400 | |
| Hartford, CT25 miles | $650 – $2,250 | $1,450 | +5% |
| New Haven, CT40 miles | $670 – $2,350 | $1,500 | +8% |
| Providence, RI45 miles | $670 – $2,350 | $1,500 | +9% |
| Waterbury, CT50 miles | $650 – $2,300 | $1,450 | +5% |
| Springfield, MA55 miles | $670 – $2,350 | $1,500 | +9% |
| Connecticut (statewide) | $660 – $2,300 | $1,500 | +6% |
| United States | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | −3% |
Across 300 US metros, Norwich comes in at #115 from the top. The priciest is San Francisco, CA at $1,900; the cheapest is McAllen, TX at $1,100 (midpoints, 60 linear ft). Statewide, Norwich is 6% below the Connecticut figure.
Other Connecticut metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hartford, CT | 599,770 jobs | $650 – $2,250 | $1,450 | +5% |
| Bridgeport, CT | 404,180 jobs | $670 – $2,350 | $1,500 | +8% |
| New Haven, CT | 281,410 jobs | $670 – $2,350 | $1,500 | +8% |
| Waterbury, CT | 160,710 jobs | $650 – $2,300 | $1,450 | +5% |
Cities with a workforce like Norwich's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Norwich against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elkhart, IN | 127,730 jobs | $620 – $2,150 | $1,400 | level |
| Crestview, FL | 125,050 jobs | $560 – $1,950 | $1,250 | −9% |
| Kennewick, WA | 129,490 jobs | $710 – $2,450 | $1,600 | +14% |
| Duluth, MN | 124,710 jobs | $700 – $2,450 | $1,550 | +13% |
French drain: what moves the price in Norwich
Where the water goes
A sump pump adds $500-$1,800 and a dry well $50-$3,000+. Discharging to a storm drain can mean extra permit fees.
Depth and soil
Rocky or clay soil and long trenches raise excavation time.
Crawl space drains
A crawl space French drain is $2,000-$8,000 installed.
When to schedule French drain in Norwich
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Norwich Public Utility Plt (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
April through November is the stretch where digging, grading and setting material in the ground runs into the fewest weather problems in Norwich (8 of 12 months). January, February, March and December have an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F).
In January, February, March and December the average low is at or below freezing, which means frozen ground and slower digging, compaction and sod or stone placement. NOAA counts about 124 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Norwich gets about 52 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 28 inches of snow. The wettest months are March, October and December (5.1 inches in March). Inside the workable window, May and July are the driest, at 3.6 and 3.6 inches. The station averages about 15 days a year at 90°F or above.
Does the season change the price? Probably, but we do not have a sourced seasonal price curve, so the estimator shows a year-round figure and does not adjust by month. When you collect quotes, ask whether scheduling in a slower month gets a better rate.
| Month | Avg high °F | Avg low °F | Precip (in) | For this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 38 | 21 | 3.9 | Cold |
| Feb | 41 | 23 | 3.8 | Cold |
| Mar | 48 | 29 | 5.1 | Cold |
| Apr | 59 | 39 | 4.7 | Workable |
| May | 70 | 49 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Jun | 78 | 59 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Jul | 84 | 65 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Aug | 83 | 63 | 4.4 | Workable |
| Sep | 76 | 55 | 4.8 | Workable |
| Oct | 64 | 44 | 4.9 | Workable |
| Nov | 53 | 34 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Dec | 43 | 27 | 5.0 | Cold |
Local wages behind the labor line
Wages are the part of this estimate that changes most from town to town. 3 trades carry the job here, and each is compared with its US median. The weighted result for Norwich is 1.09 times the national level.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 50% of the weighting: a median of $24.95 an hour, 10% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.01 and $32.96 an hour. About 390 work in the metro. That is 30.8 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
For operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073, weighted 30%) the local median is $32.14 an hour, which is 12% above the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $30.37 and $37.63 an hour. BLS counts 210 of them working in the area, 16.6 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.7), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Pipelayers (47-2151) carry 20% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Norwich metro, so we used the national median: $23.56 an hour against $23.56 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $21.15 and $29.52 an hour.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the construction laborers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($32.96 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $120. At the 25th percentile ($22.01) it shrinks by about $45. The total moves by 8.9% or 3.3%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 126,450 jobs in the Norwich-New London-Willimantic area. That makes it the 171st largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.08% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 50% | $22.01 | $24.95 | $32.96 | $22.66 | 1.10 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $30.37 | $32.14 | $37.63 | $28.78 | 1.12 | metro |
| Pipelayers (47-2151) | 20% | $21.15 | $23.56 | $29.52 | $23.56 | 1.00 | US |
| Blended | 100% | 1.09 | |||||
Norwich: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Norwich wages and prices. They overlap on purpose: a good standard job and a modest premium job can cost the same. The grid below prices the same bands at 3 common sizes.
Basic
$620 to $1,250
Shallow yard drain, easy digging
Standard
$1,100 to $1,700
Standard drain with fabric, gravel and a pop-up outlet
Premium
$1,550 to $2,150
Deep or long drain, hard soil, dry well or sump discharge
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short run (30 linear ft) | $310 – $620 | $540 – $850 | $770 – $1,100 |
| side yard (60 linear ft) | $620 – $1,250 | $1,100 – $1,700 | $1,550 – $2,150 |
| long run (120 linear ft) | $1,250 – $2,500 | $2,150 – $3,400 | $3,100 – $4,350 |
Get 3 local quotes
Tell us about the job and we will try to connect you with up to three local contractors for written quotes. It is free and you are under no obligation to hire. Your estimate of $1,100 to $1,700 for Norwich, CT is attached.
Detailed french drain report for Norwich, CT, $9
Multi-page report for Norwich, CT: low, typical and high cost, a line-item breakdown of materials and labor by trade, permit notes, the best months to schedule, a quote comparison sheet, red flags, questions for contractors, checklists and every source. Save your estimate above, preview page 1 free, and unlock the full report for $9 one-time, or get every report with CostLocal Pro.
French drain in Norwich: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a French drain in Norwich?
For 60 linear ft, expect $620 to $2,150 in the Norwich area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,100 to $1,700. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for French drain in Norwich?
About $10.50 to $36 per linear ft for materials and labor, plus $0 to $0 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $10 to $35.
+Is French drain cheaper in Norwich or Hartford?
Hartford is 25 miles away. The midpoint for 60 linear ft there is $1,450, which is 5% more than Norwich ($1,400). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Norwich?
About 55% at the midpoint, or $760 out of $1,400. Materials are 45% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would side yard (60 linear ft) cost in Norwich?
$620 to $2,150. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does French drain need a permit in Norwich?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $0 to $0 for fees in the Norwich area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Norwich expensive for French drain compared with the rest of Connecticut?
Norwich is 6% below the Connecticut statewide estimate ($1,500 at the midpoint). We cover 5 metros in Connecticut; see the state page to compare them.
+What do construction laborers earn in Norwich?
The BLS median is $24.95 an hour in the Norwich area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.01 to $32.96.
+What do basic and premium French drain work cost in Norwich?
For 60 linear ft, basic work runs $620 to $1,250 and premium work $1,550 to $2,150. Basic means: shallow yard drain, easy digging. Premium means: deep or long drain, hard soil, dry well or sump discharge.
+When is the best time to install a French drain in Norwich?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through November. May and July are typically the driest of those months. Local contractors' schedules matter as much as the weather, so book early for the busy months.
French drain near Norwich
Where these numbers come from
Base prices are national ranges from the sources below. We scale labor by local BLS wages, materials by BEA goods prices and permits by the BEA all-items price level. Full method on the methodology page.
- HomeGuide: How Much Does a French Drain Cost? (2026) (accessed November 4, 2026)
- Cost to Renovate: Renovation Labor Report 2026: Where the Money Goes (accessed November 4, 2026)
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
- BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991-2020
Note on derived figures: Materials = 48% of the installed price, from Cost to Renovate's mid-range 'Outdoor Living' category split (44% labor, 48% materials). It is a category average, not a French-drain figure, so the materials line here is a rough one.