Compare towns
Preston vs Orange 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 shortest commute (22 min average).
Orange has the most expensive homes ($492k median).
Canterbury has the most affordable homes ($334k median).
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 | Orange | Canterbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,821Lowest |
14,315Highest |
5,124 |
| Median age | 46.2±7 12% above CT |
45.6±2.4Lowest 11% above CT |
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% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
15%±3.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Orange and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23%±4.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7Lowest 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% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
26.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Orange 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 22% above CT |
$142,325±$10kHighest 49% above CT |
$103,198±$6kLowest 8% above CT |
| Orange 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 about the CT average |
$491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
$334,200±$12kLowest 9% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,433±$1k 4% below CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$924±$367Lowest 38% below CT |
| Orange 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 |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$4,140Lowest 38% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±12.5 CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
40%±13Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Orange 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% |
3.9% CT: 10% |
4.9%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
89.2% CT: 66.5% |
88.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1975Highest 8 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below CT |
28 min 4% above CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 10.3%±6Lowest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9Highest CT: 16% |
14.7%±5.4 CT: 16% |
| Orange and Canterbury 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 | #38 of 149 in CT | #125 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Preston School District | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Canterbury 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 |
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.