Compare towns
Canterbury vs Killingly vs Suffield vs Preston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Canterbury has the oldest population (median age 48.4).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
Suffield has the most people working from home (18.4%).
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 | Killingly | Suffield | Preston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,124 |
17,867Highest |
15,702 |
4,821Lowest |
| Median age | 48.4±4.5Highest 18% above CT |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
44.5±1.7 8% above CT |
46.2±7 12% above CT |
| 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 CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2 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% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23%±4.7 CT: 18.5% |
| 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% CT: 42.5% |
22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
28.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest 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 |
$84,350±$8kLowest 12% below CT |
$119,472±$13kHighest 25% above CT |
$116,648±$27k 22% above CT |
| Suffield 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 |
$288,600±$15kLowest 21% below CT |
$407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
$361,900±$13k about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $924±$367Lowest 38% below CT |
$1,044±$141 30% below CT |
$1,424±$141 4% below CT |
$1,433±$1kHighest 4% below CT |
| Preston and Suffield 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 |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$6,456Highest about the CT average |
$4,749 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±13Lowest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Preston and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.9% CT: 10% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
4.6% CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.7% CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.7% CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 8 yrs newer than CT |
1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
26 min 3% below CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
| Work from home | 14.7%±5.4 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
10.3%±6Lowest CT: 16% |
| Suffield 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 | #136 of 149 in CT | #57 of 149 in CT | #93 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Canterbury School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Suffield School District | Preston School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Killingly High School | Suffield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
10.9Lowest |
— |
| 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.