What stands out worked out from the figures below

Preston has the shortest commute (22 min average).

Coventry has the most renters (18% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Preston	Coventry
People
Population	4,821Lowest	35,907Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+1.9% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	46.2±7Highest 19% above U.S.	44±1.1Lowest 13% above U.S.
	Preston and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.7%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22%	18.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Preston and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Preston and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	31.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.5%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Coventry 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 44% above U.S.	$102,946±$8kLowest 28% above U.S.
	Preston and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$361,900±$13kHighest 9% above U.S.	$356,200±$11kLowest 7% above U.S.
	Preston and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,433±$1kHighest about the U.S. average	$1,206±$155Lowest 15% below U.S.
	Preston and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,749Lowest 52% above U.S.	$5,099Highest 63% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.6%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	51.5%±11.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Preston and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S.	1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 16% below U.S.	26 minHighest about the U.S. average
Work from home	10.3%±6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	11.3%±2.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Coventry 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	#24 of 38 in RI
School district	Preston School District	Coventry
High school in town	None in town	Coventry High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	12.3
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.