Compare towns
Killingly vs Lancaster vs Preston vs Sutton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Preston has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
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 | Killingly | Lancaster | Preston | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867Highest |
8,606 |
4,821Lowest |
9,452 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
46.2±7Highest 19% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
| Preston and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Killingly and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Preston and Lancaster 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Killingly and Preston 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 4% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$116,648±$27k 44% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$361,900±$13k 9% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,433±$1k about the U.S. average |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
| Lancaster and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$4,749 52% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Sutton 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 | #136 of 149 in CT | #145 of 282 in MA | #93 of 149 in CT | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Nashoba | Preston School District | Sutton |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | None in town | None in town | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | — | 12.6Highest |
| 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.