Compare towns

Killingly vs Ellington vs Preston

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Ellington has the most people working from home (18.4%).
Preston has the most homeowners (91.7%).

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.

MeasureKillinglyEllingtonPreston
People
Population
17,867Highest
16,455
4,821Lowest
Median age
39.5±3Lowest
4% below CT
40.9±2.4
about the CT average
46.2±7Highest
12% above CT
Preston and Ellington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.8%±2.3
CT: 20.2%
24%±3.2Highest
CT: 20.2%
18.7%±4.4Lowest
CT: 20.2%
Ellington and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.7%±2.4
CT: 18.5%
18.8%±2.8Lowest
CT: 18.5%
23%±4.7Highest
CT: 18.5%
Preston and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
22.9%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
51.4%Highest
CT: 42.5%
28.5%
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.9
CT: 7.1%
6%±2.2Highest
CT: 7.1%
4.9%±2.4Lowest
CT: 7.1%
Ellington and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$84,350±$8kLowest
12% below CT
$129,913±$17kHighest
36% above CT
$116,648±$27k
22% above CT
Ellington and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$288,600±$15kLowest
21% below CT
$366,900±$17kHighest
about the CT average
$361,900±$13k
about the CT average
Ellington and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,044±$141Lowest
30% below CT
$1,737±$212Highest
17% above CT
$1,433±$1k
4% below CT
Ellington and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,922Lowest
41% below CT
$6,751Highest
about the CT average
$4,749
29% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.8%±10.9Lowest
CT: 52.6%
45.5%±10.3
CT: 52.6%
52.6%±12.5Highest
CT: 52.6%
Preston and Ellington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.4%Highest
CT: 10%
2.4%Lowest
CT: 10%
2.4%Lowest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.6%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
72.2%
CT: 66.5%
91.7%Highest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968Lowest
1 yr newer than CT
1982Highest
15 yrs newer than CT
1970
3 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
5% above CT
31 minHighest
18% above CT
22 minLowest
17% below CT
Work from home
11.1%±2.3
CT: 16%
18.4%±3.9Highest
CT: 16%
10.3%±6Lowest
CT: 16%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #136 of 149 in CT #46 of 149 in CT #93 of 149 in CT
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Ellington School District Preston School District
High school in town Killingly High School Ellington High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1Highest
10.3Lowest
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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.