Compare towns
Canton vs Preston vs Burlington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Canton has the most renters (16.3% rent).
Preston has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Burlington has the highest household income ($165k).
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 | Canton | Preston | Burlington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144Highest |
4,821Lowest |
9,680 |
| Median age | 45.3±5.2 10% above CT |
46.2±7Highest 12% above CT |
39.9±2.4Lowest about the CT average |
| Preston and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±4 CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
25.9%±3.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Burlington and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.5%±4.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
23%±4.7 CT: 18.5% |
13.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Canton and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
28.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
50.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
7.5%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Burlington and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,991±$20k 23% above CT |
$116,648±$27kLowest 22% above CT |
$165,120±$13kHighest 72% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $395,300±$24k 8% above CT |
$361,900±$13kLowest about the CT average |
$418,700±$21kHighest 14% above CT |
| Burlington and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,403±$358Lowest 6% below CT |
$1,433±$1kHighest 4% below CT |
$1,427±$671 4% below CT |
| Preston and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,232 9% above CT |
$4,749Lowest 29% below CT |
$7,464Highest 12% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.9%±28.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5 CT: 52.6% |
46.1%±15.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Canton and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.7%Highest CT: 10% |
2.4% CT: 10% |
2.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
91.7% CT: 66.5% |
94.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1981Highest 14 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
29 minHighest 9% above CT |
| Work from home | 24.8%±6.1 CT: 16% |
10.3%±6Lowest CT: 16% |
25%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
| Burlington and Canton 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 | #22 of 149 in CT | #93 of 149 in CT | #58 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Canton School District | Preston School District | Regional School District 10 |
| High school in town | Canton High School | None in town | Lewis S. Mills High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Lowest |
— | 11.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.