Compare towns
Killingly vs Preston vs Stafford
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 youngest population (median age 39.5).
Preston has the most expensive homes ($362k median).
Stafford has the most affordable homes ($264k 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 | Preston | Stafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,867Highest |
4,821Lowest |
11,511 |
| Median age | 39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
46.2±7 12% above CT |
46.7±4.8Highest 14% above CT |
| Stafford and Preston 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% |
18.7%±4.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
21.5%±3.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Stafford 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 CT: 18.5% |
23%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
22%±3 CT: 18.5% |
| Preston and Stafford 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%Highest CT: 42.5% |
28.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
3.5%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| 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 12% below CT |
$116,648±$27kHighest 22% above CT |
$93,235±$16k about the CT average |
| Preston and Stafford 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 |
$361,900±$13kHighest about the CT average |
$263,800±$22kLowest 28% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,433±$1kHighest 4% below CT |
$1,086±$85 27% below CT |
| Preston and Stafford 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 |
$5,131Highest 23% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
41.5%±12.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Preston and Killingly 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% |
7.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
79.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1970Highest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1970Highest 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
26 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3Highest CT: 16% |
10.3%±6Lowest CT: 16% |
11%±3.5 CT: 16% |
| Killingly and Stafford 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 | #96 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Preston School District | Stafford School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | None in town | Stafford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
— | 9.8Lowest |
| 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.