Compare towns
Durham vs Preston vs Marlborough
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 most expensive homes ($425k median).
Preston has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Marlborough has the most people working from home (33.2%).
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 | Marlborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,208Highest |
4,821Lowest |
6,130 |
| Median age | 45.5±2.8 11% above CT |
46.2±7Highest 12% above CT |
41.8±4.7Lowest about the CT average |
| Preston and Durham 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%±4.4 CT: 20.2% |
23.6%±5.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Marlborough and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
23%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.3%±3.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Preston and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
28.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
45.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±2.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Marlborough and Preston 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 |
$142,105±$35k 48% above CT |
| Durham and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $424,800±$23kHighest 16% above CT |
$361,900±$13kLowest about the CT average |
$379,100±$33k 3% above CT |
| Durham and Marlborough 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 |
$1,333±$438 10% below CT |
| Preston and Marlborough 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 |
$7,397 11% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±28.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5 CT: 52.6% |
59.2%±36Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Marlborough and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
9.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
92.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1977Highest 10 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
34 minHighest 29% above CT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±6.4 CT: 16% |
10.3%±6Lowest CT: 16% |
33.2%±8.9Highest CT: 16% |
| Marlborough 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 | #52 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 13 | Preston School District | Marlborough School District |
| High school in town | Coginchaug Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9 |
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| 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.