Compare towns
Preston vs Mendon vs Voluntown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Preston has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Mendon has the most expensive homes ($616k median).
Voluntown has the oldest population (median age 48.3).
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 | Mendon | Voluntown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,821 |
6,325Highest |
2,604Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 46.2±7 19% above U.S. |
44.1±4.4Lowest 13% above U.S. |
48.3±1.7Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Voluntown 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 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Mendon and Preston 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% |
14.7%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Preston and Voluntown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mendon 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±$27k 44% above U.S. |
$132,256±$33kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$101,964±$25kLowest 26% above U.S. |
| Mendon and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,900±$13k 9% above U.S. |
$616,000±$37kHighest 85% above U.S. |
$356,100±$16kLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,433±$1k about the U.S. average |
$1,840±$196Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,166±$191Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Mendon and Preston 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. |
$7,213Highest 131% above U.S. |
$4,955 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
78.7%±26Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±24.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.3%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.9%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mendon 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 | #210 of 282 in MA | #53 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Preston School District | Mendon-Upton | 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 |
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.