Compare towns
Preston vs Bethlehem vs Montville
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).
Bethlehem has the most people working from home (13.9%).
Montville has the most affordable homes ($286k median).
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 | Bethlehem | Montville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,821 |
3,423Lowest |
17,950Highest |
| Median age | 46.2±7 12% above CT |
51.5±8.5Highest 25% above CT |
42.8±4.1Lowest 4% above CT |
| Bethlehem 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% |
16.3%±4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.2%±2.8 CT: 20.2% |
| Preston and Montville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23%±4.7 CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
17%±2.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bethlehem and Preston 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% |
39.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
25.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Montville 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±$27kHighest 22% above CT |
$108,929±$16k 14% above CT |
$96,454±$11kLowest about the CT average |
| Preston and Bethlehem 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 |
$410,900±$36kHighest 12% above CT |
$285,600±$13kLowest 22% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,433±$1kHighest 4% below CT |
$1,127±$124Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,187±$99 20% below CT |
| Preston and Montville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,749 29% below CT |
$5,932Highest 11% below CT |
$4,565Lowest 31% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±12.5 CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
41.4%±8.8Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem 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% |
10.4%Highest CT: 10% |
7.8% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
70.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
81.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below CT |
29 minHighest 9% above CT |
25 min 5% below CT |
| Work from home | 10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
13.9%±5Highest CT: 16% |
5.5%±2.2Lowest CT: 16% |
| Bethlehem 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 | #82 of 149 in CT | #95 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Preston School District | Regional School District 14 | Montville School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Montville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.2 |
| 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.