Compare towns
Canterbury vs Columbia vs Killingly vs Preston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Columbia has the most people working from home (21.6%).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
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 | Columbia | Killingly | Preston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,124 |
5,300 |
17,867Highest |
4,821Lowest |
| Median age | 48.4±4.5 18% above CT |
51.3±10.3Highest 25% above CT |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
46.2±7 12% above CT |
| Columbia and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15%±3.5 CT: 20.2% |
13.7%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4 CT: 20.2% |
| Killingly and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
24.9%±5.4 CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23%±4.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Canterbury and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.2% CT: 42.5% |
34.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
28.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.8%±2.5 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
| 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 8% above CT |
$127,000±$30kHighest 33% above CT |
$84,350±$8kLowest 12% below CT |
$116,648±$27k 22% above CT |
| Columbia and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $334,200±$12k 9% below CT |
$361,500±$16k about the CT average |
$288,600±$15kLowest 21% below CT |
$361,900±$13kHighest about the CT average |
| Preston and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $924±$367Lowest 38% below CT |
$966±$304 35% below CT |
$1,044±$141 30% below CT |
$1,433±$1kHighest 4% below CT |
| Preston and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,140 38% below CT |
$5,228Highest 21% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$4,749 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±13 CT: 52.6% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Preston and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.9% CT: 10% |
6.1% CT: 10% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.7% CT: 66.5% |
83.3% CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 8 yrs newer than CT |
1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above CT |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
| Work from home | 14.7%±5.4 CT: 16% |
21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
10.3%±6Lowest CT: 16% |
| Columbia and Canterbury 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 | #114 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #93 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Canterbury School District | Columbia School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Preston School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Killingly High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.