Compare towns
Preston vs Colebrook 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).
Colebrook has the oldest population (median age 52.1).
Voluntown has the most renters (16.5% rent).
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 | Colebrook | Voluntown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,821Highest |
1,494Lowest |
2,604 |
| Median age | 46.2±7Lowest 12% above CT |
52.1±5Highest 27% above CT |
48.3±1.7 18% above CT |
| Colebrook and Voluntown 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% |
17.9%±3.9 CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.5Lowest 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% |
26%±4.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.6%±3Lowest 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% |
36.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
26.7%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.4%±1.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Colebrook 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 |
$111,250±$17k 16% above CT |
$101,964±$25kLowest 6% 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 |
$342,800±$19kLowest 7% 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 |
$1,333±$626 10% below CT |
$1,166±$191Lowest 22% below CT |
| Preston and Colebrook 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 |
$6,211Highest 7% below CT |
$4,955 25% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±12.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.1%±55Lowest CT: 52.6% |
42.9%±24.3 CT: 52.6% |
| Preston and Voluntown 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% |
8.3%Highest CT: 10% |
7.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
91.6% CT: 66.5% |
83.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
1983Highest 16 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below CT |
34 minHighest 29% above CT |
31 min 18% above CT |
| Work from home | 10.3%±6Highest CT: 16% |
7%±3.8Lowest CT: 16% |
8.9%±5.4 CT: 16% |
| Preston and Voluntown 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 | — | #53 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Preston School District | Colebrook 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.