Compare towns
Canterbury vs Central Falls vs Killingly vs Preston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Canterbury has the most people working from home (14.7%).
Central Falls has the most renters (74.4% rent).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Preston has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Canterbury | Central Falls | Killingly | Preston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,124 |
22,701Highest |
17,867 |
4,821Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +16.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 48.4±4.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
32.5±2.3Lowest 16% below U.S. |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
46.2±7 19% above U.S. |
| Canterbury and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Canterbury and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
10.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Killingly and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $103,198±$6k 28% above U.S. |
$49,285±$8kLowest 39% below U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$116,648±$27kHighest 44% above U.S. |
| Preston and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $334,200±$12k about the U.S. average |
$352,100±$30k 6% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$361,900±$13kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Preston and Central Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $924±$367Lowest 35% below U.S. |
$1,200±$75 15% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
$1,433±$1kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Preston and Central Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,140 33% above U.S. |
$3,744Lowest 20% above U.S. |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
$4,749Highest 52% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±13Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.7%±8.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Central Falls and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
24.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
25.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.7%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Canterbury and Killingly 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 | #125 of 149 in CT | #38 of 38 in RI | #136 of 149 in CT | #93 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Canterbury School District | Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Preston School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Central Falls Sr High | Killingly High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.6Highest |
11.1Lowest |
— |
| 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.