Compare towns
Preston vs Enfield vs Canterbury
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 highest household income ($117k).
Enfield has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Canterbury has the oldest population (median age 48.4).
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 | Enfield | Canterbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,821Lowest |
41,090Highest |
5,124 |
| Median age | 46.2±7 12% above CT |
40.7±1.9Lowest about the CT average |
48.4±4.5Highest 18% above CT |
| Canterbury and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.4 CT: 20.2% |
18.9%±1.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
15%±3.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Enfield and Preston 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% |
18%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
25.5%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Canterbury 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% |
31.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
26.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.3%±0.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±2 CT: 7.1% |
| Preston and Canterbury 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 |
$90,404±$5kLowest 6% below CT |
$103,198±$6k 8% above CT |
| Preston and Canterbury 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 |
$252,900±$7kLowest 31% below CT |
$334,200±$12k 9% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,433±$1k 4% below CT |
$1,574±$83Highest 6% above CT |
$924±$367Lowest 38% below CT |
| Enfield 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 |
$5,360Highest 19% below CT |
$4,140Lowest 38% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±12.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
46.7%±6.7 CT: 52.6% |
40%±13Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Preston and Enfield 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% |
4.9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
75.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
88.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1963Lowest 4 yrs older than CT |
1975Highest 8 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below CT |
24 min 11% below CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 10.3%±6Lowest CT: 16% |
14.5%±2.5 CT: 16% |
14.7%±5.4Highest CT: 16% |
| Canterbury and Enfield 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 | #123 of 149 in CT | #125 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Preston School District | Capitol Region Education Council · Enfield School District | Canterbury School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Enfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5 |
— |
| 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.