Compare towns
Preston vs Putnam vs Killingly 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).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Canterbury has the most people working from home (14.7%).
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 | Putnam | Killingly | Canterbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,821Lowest |
9,292 |
17,867Highest |
5,124 |
| Median age | 46.2±7 12% above CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below 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% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
15%±3.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Killingly 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% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 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%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
26.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±2 CT: 7.1% |
| Killingly 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 |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% 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 |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$334,200±$12k 9% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,433±$1kHighest 4% below CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
$1,044±$141 30% below CT |
$924±$367Lowest 38% below CT |
| Preston and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,749Highest 29% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$3,922 41% below CT |
$4,140 38% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±12.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
40%±13 CT: 52.6% |
| Preston and Killingly 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% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
11.4% CT: 10% |
4.9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
88.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1975Highest 8 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
14.7%±5.4Highest CT: 16% |
| Canterbury and Killingly 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #125 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Preston School District | Putnam School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Canterbury School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Putnam High School | Killingly High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5Lowest |
11.1Highest |
— |
| 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.