Compare towns
Preston vs Avon 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).
Avon has the most people working from home (33.7%).
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 | Avon | Voluntown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,821 |
18,946Highest |
2,604Lowest |
| Median age | 46.2±7 12% above CT |
44.3±1.7Lowest 8% above 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%±4.4 CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±2.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Avon and Preston 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% |
22.7%±2.6 CT: 18.5% |
17.6%±3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Preston and Avon 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% |
73.1%Highest CT: 42.5% |
26.7%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.4%±1.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Avon and Preston 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 |
$154,058±$13kHighest 61% above CT |
$101,964±$25kLowest 6% above CT |
| Avon 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±$13k about the CT average |
$479,700±$20kHighest 31% above CT |
$356,100±$16kLowest about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,433±$1k 4% below CT |
$1,857±$151Highest 25% above CT |
$1,166±$191Lowest 22% below CT |
| Avon and Preston 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 |
$9,371Highest 41% above CT |
$4,955 25% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±12.5 CT: 52.6% |
58.6%±11.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.9%±24.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Avon and Preston 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% |
4.8% CT: 10% |
7.3%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
85.4% CT: 66.5% |
83.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1983Highest 16 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
31 minHighest 18% above CT |
| Work from home | 10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
33.7%±3.6Highest CT: 16% |
8.9%±5.4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #93 of 149 in CT | #31 of 149 in CT | #53 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Preston School District | Avon School District · Capitol Region Education Council | Voluntown School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Avon High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.7 |
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| 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.