Compare towns
New Preston vs Killingly vs Kent vs Canaan
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
New Preston has the most people working from home (32.3%).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Kent has the highest household income ($96k).
Canaan has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | New Preston | Killingly | Kent | Canaan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,146Lowest |
17,867Highest |
3,056 |
1,175 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% CT: +0.9% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 51.8±12.8 26% above CT |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
55.8±4.3Highest 36% above CT |
54.2±3.2 32% above CT |
| Kent and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±7 CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
12.2%±3.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
14.6%±3.4 CT: 20.2% |
| Killingly and New Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 31.3%±5.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
30.6%±6.5 CT: 18.5% |
27.5%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
| New Preston and Kent are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
55.5% CT: 42.5% |
49.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±4.7 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
7.2%±3.2 CT: 7.1% |
12%±8.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Canaan and Kent are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,406±$28kLowest 20% below CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$96,064±$16kHighest about the CT average |
$89,632±$25k 6% below CT |
| Kent and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $452,600±$43k 23% above CT |
$288,600±$15kLowest 21% below CT |
$470,900±$78kHighest 28% above CT |
$469,400±$33k 28% above CT |
| Kent and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,044±$141 30% below CT |
$688±$205Lowest 54% below CT |
$1,830±$307Highest 23% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,528Lowest 47% below CT |
$3,922 41% below CT |
$4,520 32% below CT |
$6,331Highest 5% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 7.4%±89.8Lowest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
11.5%±11.1 CT: 52.6% |
67.1%±26Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Canaan and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.8% CT: 10% |
11.4% CT: 10% |
9%Lowest CT: 10% |
16%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
70.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
83.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1944Lowest 23 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 8% above CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
20 min 23% below CT |
17 minLowest 37% below CT |
| Work from home | 32.3%±28Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest CT: 16% |
21.5%±6.4 CT: 16% |
29.2%±13.5 CT: 16% |
| New Preston and Canaan 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 | #20 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Kent School District | Canaan School District · Regional School District 01 |
| High school in town | — | Killingly High School | None in town | Housatonic Valley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
— | 9.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.