Compare towns
Preston vs Chaplin vs Colebrook
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).
Chaplin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Colebrook has the oldest population (median age 52.1).
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 | Chaplin | Colebrook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,821Highest |
2,070 |
1,494Lowest |
| Median age | 46.2±7 12% above CT |
43.7±4.8Lowest 6% above CT |
52.1±5Highest 27% above CT |
| Colebrook 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% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
17.9%±3.9 CT: 20.2% |
| Preston and Colebrook 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% |
20.9%±4.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26%±4.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Colebrook 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% |
25.4%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
36.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Colebrook 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 |
$97,846±$14kLowest about the CT average |
$111,250±$17k 16% above CT |
| Preston and Colebrook 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 |
$255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
$342,800±$19k 7% below CT |
| Preston and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,433±$1k 4% below CT |
$1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
$1,333±$626Lowest 10% below CT |
| Chaplin and Preston 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 |
$4,524Lowest 32% below CT |
$6,211Highest 7% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±12.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
42.1%±55 CT: 52.6% |
| Preston and Colebrook 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% |
8.3%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
82.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
91.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below CT |
32 min 22% above CT |
34 minHighest 29% above CT |
| Work from home | 10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
18.1%±10Highest CT: 16% |
7%±3.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Chaplin 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 | — | — |
| School district | Preston School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Colebrook School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Parish Hill High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.5 |
— |
| 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.