Compare towns
Canterbury vs Killingly vs Washington vs Preston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k 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 | Washington | Preston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,124 |
17,867Highest |
3,676Lowest |
4,821 |
| Median age | 48.4±4.5 18% above CT |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
49.9±5.5Highest 21% above CT |
46.2±7 12% above CT |
| Washington and Canterbury 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% |
19%±4.7 CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4 CT: 20.2% |
| Killingly and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26.9%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
23%±4.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Washington and Canterbury 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% |
53.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
28.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
6.4%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Washington and Killingly 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 |
$101,549±$16k 6% above CT |
$116,648±$27kHighest 22% above CT |
| 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 9% below CT |
$288,600±$15kLowest 21% below CT |
$660,200±$130kHighest 80% above CT |
$361,900±$13k about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $924±$367Lowest 38% below CT |
$1,044±$141 30% below CT |
$1,204±$264 19% below CT |
$1,433±$1kHighest 4% below CT |
| Preston and Washington 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 |
$4,709 29% below CT |
$4,749Highest 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±13 CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
26.1%±24Lowest 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% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
9% CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.7% CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
79% CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 8 yrs newer than CT |
1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1971 4 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 4% below CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
| Work from home | 14.7%±5.4 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
20.1%±9Highest CT: 16% |
10.3%±6Lowest CT: 16% |
| Washington 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 | #17 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 | Regional School District 12 | Preston School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Killingly High School | Shepaug Valley School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
9.1Lowest |
— |
| 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.