Compare towns
Hadley vs Killingly vs Preston vs Amherst Town
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hadley has the most expensive homes ($511k median).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Preston has the most homeowners (91.7%).
Amherst Town has the youngest population (median age 21.4).
Amherst Town is a college town. 59.6% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Hadley | Killingly | Preston | Amherst Town |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,306 |
17,867 |
4,821Lowest |
38,182Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 45.8±7.1 18% above U.S. |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
46.2±7Highest 19% above U.S. |
21.4±0.2Lowest 45% below U.S. |
| Preston and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
7.5%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Killingly and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.2%±4.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
10.1%±1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hadley and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.9%±5.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
59.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $119,259±$12kHighest 48% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$116,648±$27k 44% above U.S. |
$66,968±$7kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Hadley and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $511,000±$43kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$361,900±$13k 9% above U.S. |
$484,900±$21k 46% above U.S. |
| Hadley and Amherst Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$132 about the U.S. average |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,433±$1k about the U.S. average |
$1,671±$93Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Amherst Town and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,271 69% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,749 52% above U.S. |
$8,787Highest 182% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.6%±18.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.1%±8.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Amherst Town and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
23.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
44.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 26% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.1%±7.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±2.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Amherst Town and Hadley 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 | #116 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | #93 of 149 in CT | #58 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hadley | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Preston School District | Amherst · Amherst-Pelham |
| High school in town | Hopkins Academy | Killingly High School | None in town | Amherst Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.3Lowest |
11.1 |
— | 11.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.