Compare towns
Canterbury vs Preston vs Hampton
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 most renters (11.3% rent).
Preston has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Hampton has the most people working from home (17.7%).
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 | Preston | Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,124Highest |
4,821 |
1,647Lowest |
| Median age | 48.4±4.5 18% above CT |
46.2±7Lowest 12% above CT |
51.5±5.3Highest 25% above CT |
| Hampton 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% |
18.7%±4.4 CT: 20.2% |
19.7%±5.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Hampton and Preston 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% |
23%±4.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26.1%±2.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Hampton 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%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
28.5% CT: 42.5% |
29.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2 CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Preston and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,198±$6kLowest 8% above CT |
$116,648±$27kHighest 22% above CT |
$109,167±$19k 14% above CT |
| Preston and Hampton 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 |
$361,900±$13kHighest about the CT average |
$295,800±$27kLowest 19% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $924±$367Lowest 38% below CT |
$1,433±$1kHighest 4% below CT |
$1,285±$288 14% below CT |
| Preston and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,140Lowest 38% below CT |
$4,749Highest 29% below CT |
$4,364 34% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±13Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
52.5%±51.5 CT: 52.6% |
| Preston and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.9% CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
90% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 8 yrs newer than CT |
1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1980Highest 13 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
| Work from home | 14.7%±5.4 CT: 16% |
10.3%±6Lowest CT: 16% |
17.7%±5.1Highest CT: 16% |
| Hampton 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 | #93 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Canterbury School District | Preston School District | Hampton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.