Compare towns
Franklin vs Preston vs Voluntown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Franklin has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
Preston has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Voluntown has the oldest population (median age 48.3).
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 | Franklin | Preston | Voluntown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,004Lowest |
4,821Highest |
2,604 |
| Median age | 40.3±4.3Lowest about the CT average |
46.2±7 12% above CT |
48.3±1.7Highest 18% above CT |
| Voluntown and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.2%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4 CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Franklin and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.6%±3 CT: 18.5% |
| Preston and Voluntown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.8% CT: 42.5% |
28.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
26.7%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.4%±1.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Preston and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $105,000±$10k 10% above CT |
$116,648±$27kHighest 22% above CT |
$101,964±$25kLowest 6% above CT |
| Preston and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $326,200±$20kLowest 11% below CT |
$361,900±$13kHighest about the CT average |
$356,100±$16k about the CT average |
| Preston and Voluntown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $767±$529Lowest 48% below CT |
$1,433±$1kHighest 4% below CT |
$1,166±$191 22% below CT |
| Preston and Voluntown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,934Lowest 41% below CT |
$4,749 29% below CT |
$4,955Highest 25% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.5%±18.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.9%±24.3 CT: 52.6% |
| Preston and Voluntown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
7.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.1% CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
83.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 6 yrs newer than CT |
1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1983Highest 16 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
31 minHighest 18% above CT |
| Work from home | 6.8%±2.4Lowest CT: 16% |
10.3%±6Highest CT: 16% |
8.9%±5.4 CT: 16% |
| Preston and Voluntown 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 | — | #93 of 149 in CT | #53 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Franklin School District | Preston School District | Voluntown School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.