Compare towns
Killingly vs Preston vs Hamden
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 kids (19.8% under 18).
Preston has the most homeowners (91.7%).
Hamden has the most people working from home (16.3%).
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 | Preston | Hamden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,867 |
4,821Lowest |
61,045Highest |
| Median age | 39.5±3 4% below CT |
46.2±7Highest 12% above CT |
38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT |
| Preston and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4 CT: 20.2% |
17%±1.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Killingly and Preston 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% |
23%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.1%±1.3Lowest 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% |
28.5% CT: 42.5% |
47.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,350±$8kLowest 12% below CT |
$116,648±$27kHighest 22% above CT |
$98,306±$7k about the CT average |
| Preston and Hamden 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 |
$361,900±$13kHighest about the CT average |
$298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,433±$1k 4% below CT |
$1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT |
| Hamden 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 |
$4,749 29% below CT |
$7,784Highest 17% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
| Preston and Hamden 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% |
9.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
62.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1970Highest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above CT |
22 min 17% below CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
10.3%±6Lowest CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1Highest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #136 of 149 in CT | #93 of 149 in CT | #122 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Preston School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | None in town | Hamden High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | 13.5Highest |
| 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.