Compare towns
Preston vs Plainville vs Killingly vs Lisbon
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).
Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Lisbon has the most kids (22.1% 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 | Plainville | Killingly | Lisbon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,821 |
17,551 |
17,867Highest |
4,211Lowest |
| Median age | 46.2±7Highest 12% above CT |
44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
44.5±5.2 8% above CT |
| Preston and Lisbon 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% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
22.1%±6.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Lisbon and Killingly 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% |
20.1%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
21.3%±4.3 CT: 18.5% |
| Preston and Lisbon 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% |
30%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
19.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±2.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Plainville and Killingly 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 |
$84,343±$7kLowest 12% below CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$92,708±$12k 3% below CT |
| Preston and Lisbon 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 |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$315,700±$26k 14% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,433±$1kHighest 4% below CT |
$1,126±$147 24% below CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
— |
| Preston and Plainville 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 |
$4,798Highest 28% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$4,044 39% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±12.5 CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
100%±75.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Lisbon 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% |
6.5% CT: 10% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
6.6% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7% CT: 66.5% |
67.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
97.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
10.7%±2 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3Highest CT: 16% |
8.3%±3.4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Killingly and Plainville 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 | #89 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #102 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Preston School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Lisbon School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Plainville High School | Killingly High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Highest |
11.1Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.