Compare towns

Killingly vs Ware vs Preston

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 youngest population (median age 39.5).
Ware has the most people working from home (12.3%).
Preston has the highest household income ($117k).

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.

MeasureKillinglyWarePreston
People
Population
17,867Highest
10,048
4,821Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+2%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
39.5±3Lowest
about the U.S. average
43.1±4.7
11% above U.S.
46.2±7Highest
19% above U.S.
Preston and Ware 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%
19.1%±3.5
U.S.: 22%
18.7%±4.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Killingly and Ware 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%
20.6%±3.4
U.S.: 17.2%
23%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Preston and Ware 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%
24%
U.S.: 35.7%
28.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.4%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.9%±2.4
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±$8k
4% above U.S.
$67,475±$15kLowest
16% below U.S.
$116,648±$27kHighest
44% above U.S.
Preston and Killingly 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.
$289,700±$28k
13% below U.S.
$361,900±$13kHighest
9% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,044±$141
26% below U.S.
$1,043±$109Lowest
26% below U.S.
$1,433±$1kHighest
about the U.S. average
Preston and Killingly 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.
$4,237
36% above U.S.
$4,749Highest
52% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.8%±10.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
64.3%±16.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.6%±12.5
U.S.: 51.1%
Ware and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
72.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
91.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1960Lowest
20 yrs older than U.S.
1970Highest
10 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
6% above U.S.
28 minHighest
8% above U.S.
22 minLowest
16% below U.S.
Work from home
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
12.3%±3.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.3%±6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Ware and Killingly 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 #267 of 282 in MA #93 of 149 in CT
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Ware Preston School District
High school in town Killingly High School Ware Junior/Senior High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1
11.1
—
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.