Compare towns
Preston vs Ashford vs Voluntown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Preston has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Ashford has the most people working from home (19.3%).
Voluntown has the oldest population (median age 48.3).
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 | Preston | Ashford | Voluntown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,821Highest |
4,226 |
2,604Lowest |
| Median age | 46.2±7 12% above CT |
37.9±10.3Lowest 8% below CT |
48.3±1.7Highest 18% above CT |
| Voluntown and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.5%±5.5 CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Preston and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.9%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
17.6%±3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Preston and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5% CT: 42.5% |
35.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
26.7%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
3.4%±1.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Preston and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $116,648±$27k 22% above CT |
$121,926±$23kHighest 27% above CT |
$101,964±$25kLowest 6% above CT |
| Ashford and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,900±$13kHighest about the CT average |
$334,800±$18kLowest 9% below CT |
$356,100±$16k about the CT average |
| Preston and Voluntown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,433±$1kHighest 4% below CT |
$1,246±$208 16% below CT |
$1,166±$191Lowest 22% below CT |
| Preston and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,749Lowest 29% below CT |
$6,982Highest 5% above CT |
$4,955 25% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±12.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
47%±26 CT: 52.6% |
42.9%±24.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Preston and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.4% CT: 10% |
7.3%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
76.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
83.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1982 15 yrs newer than CT |
1983Highest 16 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below CT |
34 minHighest 30% above CT |
31 min 18% above CT |
| Work from home | 10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
19.3%±5.5Highest CT: 16% |
8.9%±5.4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Ashford 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 | #93 of 149 in CT | #90 of 149 in CT | #53 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Preston School District | Ashford School District | Voluntown School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.