Compare towns
Preston vs Cromwell vs Brooklyn
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 most homeowners (91.7%).
Cromwell has the most people working from home (18.4%).
Brooklyn has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
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 | Cromwell | Brooklyn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,821Lowest |
14,334Highest |
8,517 |
| Median age | 46.2±7Highest 12% above CT |
43.5±2.5Lowest 6% above CT |
45.6±2.5 11% above CT |
| Preston and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.1%±3.1 CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±4.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Brooklyn and Cromwell 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%±3.2 CT: 18.5% |
17.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Preston and Cromwell 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% |
49.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
23.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.4%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
| Cromwell and Brooklyn 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 |
$110,596±$10k 15% above CT |
$96,207±$15kLowest about the CT average |
| Preston and Cromwell 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 |
$325,200±$22k 11% below CT |
$315,200±$28kLowest 14% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,433±$1k 4% below CT |
$1,628±$154Highest 9% above CT |
$1,125±$98Lowest 24% below CT |
| Cromwell 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 |
$6,137Highest 8% below CT |
$4,538Lowest 32% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±12.5 CT: 52.6% |
61%±11.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
38.5%±19.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Cromwell and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.4% CT: 10% |
5.9%Highest CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
82.4% CT: 66.5% |
81.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below CT |
24 min 11% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 10.3%±6Lowest CT: 16% |
18.4%±4Highest CT: 16% |
10.7%±5.4 CT: 16% |
| Cromwell and Brooklyn 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 | #69 of 149 in CT | #113 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Preston School District | Cromwell School District | Brooklyn School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Cromwell High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| 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.