Compare towns
Lisbon vs Baltic vs Plainville vs Preston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lisbon has the most kids (22.1% under 18).
Baltic has the most renters (62.2% rent).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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.
| Measure | Lisbon | Baltic | Plainville | Preston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,211 |
1,157Lowest |
17,551Highest |
4,821 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -5.1% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 44.5±5.2 8% above CT |
37.8±15.8Lowest 8% below CT |
44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
46.2±7Highest 12% above CT |
| Preston and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.1%±6.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.5%±10.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4 CT: 20.2% |
| Lisbon and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±4.3 CT: 18.5% |
15.6%±5.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
23%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Preston and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.2% CT: 42.5% |
16.1%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
30%Highest CT: 42.5% |
28.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
0.5%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Plainville and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $92,708±$12k 3% below CT |
$68,958±$47kLowest 28% below CT |
$84,343±$7k 12% below CT |
$116,648±$27kHighest 22% above CT |
| Preston and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $315,700±$26k 14% below CT |
$196,200±$27kLowest 47% below CT |
$254,000±$14k 31% below CT |
$361,900±$13kHighest about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,247±$141 16% below CT |
$1,126±$147Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,433±$1kHighest 4% below CT |
| Preston and Baltic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,044 39% below CT |
$3,799Lowest 43% below CT |
$4,798Highest 28% below CT |
$4,749 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±75.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
29.3%±13.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4 CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5 CT: 52.6% |
| Lisbon and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.6% CT: 10% |
11.6%Highest CT: 10% |
6.5% CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
37.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
67.7% CT: 66.5% |
91.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1938Lowest 29 yrs older than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above CT |
28 min 6% above CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
22 min 17% below CT |
| Work from home | 8.3%±3.4 CT: 16% |
5.2%±4.6Lowest CT: 16% |
10.7%±2Highest CT: 16% |
10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
| Plainville 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 | #102 of 149 in CT | — | #89 of 149 in CT | #93 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Lisbon School District | — | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Preston School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Plainville High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.