What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bloomfield has the most people working from home (18.2%).

Preston has the most kids (18.7% 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	Bloomfield	Preston
People
Population	21,754Highest	4,821Lowest
Median age	48.4±3.3Highest 18% above CT	46.2±7Lowest 12% above CT
	Bloomfield and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.7%±2.1Lowest CT: 20.2%	18.7%±4.4Highest CT: 20.2%
	Preston and Bloomfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27.3%±2.6Highest CT: 18.5%	23%±4.7Lowest CT: 18.5%
	Bloomfield and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40.8%Highest CT: 42.5%	28.5%Lowest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1%	4.9%±2.4Lowest CT: 7.1%
	Bloomfield and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$98,725±$14kLowest 3% above CT	$116,648±$27kHighest 22% above CT
	Preston and Bloomfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$286,900±$11kLowest 22% below CT	$361,900±$13kHighest about the CT average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,881±$175Highest 26% above CT	$1,433±$1kLowest 4% below CT
	Bloomfield and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,795Highest 13% below CT	$4,749Lowest 29% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.6%±11.2 CT: 52.6%	52.6%±12.5 CT: 52.6%
Below poverty line	5.8%Highest CT: 10%	2.4%Lowest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.1%Lowest CT: 66.5%	91.7%Highest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970 3 yrs newer than CT	1970 3 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minHighest 12% below CT	22 minLowest 17% below CT
Work from home	18.2%±3.1Highest CT: 16%	10.3%±6Lowest CT: 16%
	Bloomfield and Preston 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	#139 of 149 in CT	#93 of 149 in CT
School district	Bloomfield School District · Capitol Region Education Council	Preston School District
High school in town	Academy of International Studies 6-12	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	10.1	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

CT 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.