Compare towns
Hatfield vs Killingly vs Preston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hatfield has the most people working from home (16%).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Preston has the highest household income ($117k).
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 | Hatfield | Killingly | Preston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,325Lowest |
17,867Highest |
4,821 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 46.8±5Highest 20% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
46.2±7 19% above U.S. |
| Hatfield and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.4 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+ | 23.3%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hatfield and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Killingly and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,005±$25k 10% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$116,648±$27kHighest 44% above U.S. |
| Preston and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $440,800±$26kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$361,900±$13k 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,267±$216 10% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,433±$1kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Preston and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,930Highest 58% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,749 52% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±11.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Preston and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Highest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hatfield and Killingly 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 | #198 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | #93 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Hatfield | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Preston School District |
| High school in town | Smith Academy | Killingly High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.1Lowest |
11.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.