Compare towns
Killingly vs Ledyard vs Preston vs Thomaston
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 renters (28.4% rent).
Ledyard has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Preston has the oldest population (median age 46.2).
Thomaston has the most affordable homes ($283k median).
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 | Ledyard | Preston | Thomaston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867Highest |
15,433 |
4,821Lowest |
7,492 |
| Median age | 39.5±3 4% below CT |
37.1±1.4Lowest 10% below CT |
46.2±7Highest 12% above CT |
41.5±7.7 about the CT average |
| Preston and Thomaston 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% |
27.5%±3.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.5%±5.2 CT: 20.2% |
| Ledyard and Thomaston 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% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.6%±3.6 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% |
40.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
28.5% CT: 42.5% |
34% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Thomaston 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 |
$107,975±$10k 13% above CT |
$116,648±$27kHighest 22% above CT |
$103,218±$15k 8% above CT |
| Preston and Ledyard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$326,200±$27k 11% below CT |
$361,900±$13kHighest about the CT average |
$282,600±$23kLowest 23% below CT |
| Preston and Ledyard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141 30% below CT |
$1,629±$247Highest 9% above CT |
$1,433±$1k 4% below CT |
$1,037±$147Lowest 30% below CT |
| Ledyard 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 |
$6,371Highest 4% below CT |
$4,749 29% below CT |
$5,915 11% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
54%±27 CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5 CT: 52.6% |
57.9%±22Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Thomaston and Ledyard 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% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
2.4% CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
82.7% CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
77.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3Highest CT: 16% |
9.2%±2.8 CT: 16% |
10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
7.6%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
| Killingly and Preston 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 | #99 of 149 in CT | #93 of 149 in CT | #106 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Ledyard School District | Preston School District | Thomaston School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | Ledyard High School | None in town | Thomaston High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
11.5Highest |
— | 10.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.