Compare towns

Killingly vs Preston vs Hanson

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).
Preston has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Hanson has the most expensive homes ($534k 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.

MeasureKillinglyPrestonHanson
People
Population
17,867Highest
4,821Lowest
10,660
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — —
+4.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
39.5±3Lowest
about the U.S. average
46.2±7Highest
19% above U.S.
42.8±3
10% above U.S.
Preston and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.8%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
18.7%±4.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.6%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
Hanson and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.7%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
23%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
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
U.S.: 35.7%
28.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
42.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.9%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.2Lowest
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.
$116,648±$27k
44% above U.S.
$132,200±$10kHighest
64% above U.S.
Hanson 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
13% below U.S.
$361,900±$13k
9% above U.S.
$533,900±$36kHighest
60% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
$1,433±$1k
about the U.S. average
$1,821±$860Highest
29% above U.S.
Hanson 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.
$4,749
52% above U.S.
$6,402Highest
105% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.8%±10.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.6%±12.5
U.S.: 51.1%
69%±33.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Hanson 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%
2.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
91.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
89%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968Lowest
12 yrs older than U.S.
1970
10 yrs older than U.S.
1972Highest
8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
6% above U.S.
22 minLowest
16% below U.S.
34 minHighest
27% above U.S.
Work from home
11.1%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.3%±6
U.S.: 15.1%
7.9%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
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 #93 of 149 in CT #149 of 282 in MA
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Preston School District Whitman-Hanson
High school in town Killingly High School None in town Whitman Hanson Regional
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1Lowest
—
14.7Highest
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.