Compare towns
Durham vs Preston vs Killingworth
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has the highest household income ($159k).
Preston has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Killingworth has the most people working from home (24%).
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 | Durham | Preston | Killingworth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,208Highest |
4,821Lowest |
6,240 |
| Median age | 45.5±2.8Lowest 11% above CT |
46.2±7 12% above CT |
53.3±4.6Highest 30% above CT |
| Killingworth and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±3.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23%±4.7 CT: 18.5% |
25.5%±4.9Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Killingworth and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.9% CT: 42.5% |
28.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
55.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.2%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Preston and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $158,857±$7kHighest 66% above CT |
$116,648±$27kLowest 22% above CT |
$140,655±$16k 47% above CT |
| Durham and Killingworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $424,800±$23k 16% above CT |
$361,900±$13kLowest about the CT average |
$446,200±$56kHighest 22% above CT |
| Killingworth and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,154±$448Lowest 22% below CT |
$1,433±$1kHighest 4% below CT |
— |
| Preston and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,998Highest 20% above CT |
$4,749Lowest 29% below CT |
$6,550 about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±28.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
45.2%±15.8 CT: 52.6% |
| Preston and Killingworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Highest CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.2% CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
96.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1987Highest 20 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
24 minHighest 10% below CT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±6.4 CT: 16% |
10.3%±6Lowest CT: 16% |
24%±6.8Highest CT: 16% |
| Killingworth and Durham 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 | #88 of 149 in CT | #93 of 149 in CT | #29 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 13 | Preston School District | Regional School District 17 |
| High school in town | Coginchaug Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9 |
— | — |
| 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.