Compare towns
Preston vs Derby vs Putnam
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%).
Derby has the most people working from home (15.1%).
Putnam has the youngest population (median age 43.7).
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 | Derby | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,821Lowest |
12,487Highest |
9,292 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -4.5% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 46.2±7 12% above CT |
46.4±3.1Highest 13% above CT |
43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
| Derby 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% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Preston and Putnam 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% |
21.1%±3.9 CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Preston and Derby 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% |
35.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Derby 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 |
$79,500±$11k 17% below CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
| Preston and Derby 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 |
$256,700±$21kLowest 30% below CT |
$269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,433±$1k 4% below CT |
$1,452±$95Highest about the CT average |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
| Derby 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 |
$5,510Highest 17% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±12.5 CT: 52.6% |
53.9%±12.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Derby 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% |
10.8% CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
61.9% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1967 same as CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
25 min 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
15.1%±4.8Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Derby 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 | #138 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Preston School District | Derby School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Derby High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.7Highest |
9.5Lowest |
| 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.