Compare towns

Norwich vs Killingly vs Upton 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

Norwich has the most renters (46.2% rent).
Upton has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Preston has the shortest commute (22 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.

MeasureNorwichKillinglyUptonPreston
People
Population
39,973Highest
17,867
8,189
4,821Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+6.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
38.5±1.7Lowest
about the U.S. average
39.5±3
about the U.S. average
46.4±4.8Highest
19% above U.S.
46.2±7
19% above U.S.
Upton and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.9%±1.8
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
23.2%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.7%±4.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Upton and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
16.9%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±4.9
U.S.: 17.2%
23%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Preston and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
23.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
22.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
53.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
28.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.9%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
Norwich and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$65,024±$5kLowest
19% below U.S.
$84,350±$8k
4% above U.S.
$155,508±$33kHighest
93% above U.S.
$116,648±$27k
44% above U.S.
Upton and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$242,300±$11kLowest
27% below U.S.
$288,600±$15k
13% below U.S.
$576,700±$41kHighest
73% above U.S.
$361,900±$13k
9% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,253±$68
11% below U.S.
$1,044±$141
26% below U.S.
$948±$599Lowest
33% below U.S.
$1,433±$1kHighest
about the U.S. average
Preston and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,703
51% above U.S.
$3,922Lowest
26% above U.S.
$8,376Highest
169% above U.S.
$4,749
52% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.2%±7.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.8%±10.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.8%±31
U.S.: 51.1%
52.6%±12.5
U.S.: 51.1%
Norwich and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
16.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
53.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
91.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1957Lowest
23 yrs older than U.S.
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1970
10 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
9% below U.S.
28 min
6% above U.S.
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
22 minLowest
16% below U.S.
Work from home
7.2%±2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.3%±6
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #133 of 149 in CT #136 of 149 in CT #46 of 282 in MA #93 of 149 in CT
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton Preston School District
High school in town Norwich Free Academy Killingly High School Blackstone Valley None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
14.8Highest
11.1Lowest
11.2
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On TownTapestry
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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.