Compare towns
Canterbury vs Killingly vs Townsend 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%).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Townsend has the most expensive homes ($433k 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 | Killingly | Townsend | Preston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,124 |
17,867Highest |
9,100 |
4,821Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 48.4±4.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
40.9±3.3 5% above U.S. |
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% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest 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% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Killingly and Townsend 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. |
$84,350±$8kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$116,648±$27k 44% above U.S. |
| Townsend 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 about the U.S. average |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$361,900±$13k 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $924±$367Lowest 35% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,433±$1k about the U.S. average |
| Townsend and Preston 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. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
$4,749 52% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±13Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Preston and Townsend 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% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.7%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±6Lowest 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 | #136 of 149 in CT | #136 of 282 in MA | #93 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Canterbury School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | North Middlesex | Preston School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Killingly High School | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Lowest |
13.1Highest |
— |
| 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.