Compare towns
Canterbury vs Putnam 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 most people working from home (14.7%).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Preston has the highest household income ($117k).
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 | Putnam | Preston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,124 |
9,292Highest |
4,821Lowest |
| Median age | 48.4±4.5Highest 18% above CT |
43.7±3Lowest 6% 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% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Preston and Putnam 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% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest 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% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
28.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4Highest 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±$6k 8% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below 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 |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$361,900±$13kHighest about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $924±$367Lowest 38% below CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
$1,433±$1kHighest 4% below CT |
| Preston and Putnam 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 |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$4,749Highest 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±13 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Preston and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.9% CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.7% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 8 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
| Work from home | 14.7%±5.4Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
| Canterbury and Preston 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #93 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Canterbury School District | Putnam School District | Preston School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Putnam High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5 |
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| 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.