Compare towns
Colebrook vs Killingly vs Preston vs Putnam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Colebrook has the oldest population (median age 52.1).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Preston has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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 | Colebrook | Killingly | Preston | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,494Lowest |
17,867Highest |
4,821 |
9,292 |
| Median age | 52.1±5Highest 27% above CT |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
46.2±7 12% above CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
| Colebrook and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.9%±3.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Killingly and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26%±4.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
23%±4.7 CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Colebrook and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
28.5% CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$17k 16% above CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$116,648±$27kHighest 22% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
| Preston and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $342,800±$19k 7% below CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$361,900±$13kHighest about the CT average |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
| Preston and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$626 10% below CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,433±$1kHighest 4% below CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
| Preston and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,211Highest 7% below CT |
$3,922 41% below CT |
$4,749 29% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±55 CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest 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 | 8.3% CT: 10% |
11.4% CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6% CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1970Highest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 7%±3.8Lowest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3Highest CT: 16% |
10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
| Killingly 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 | — | #136 of 149 in CT | #93 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Colebrook School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Preston School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Killingly High School | None in town | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
— | 9.5Lowest |
| 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.