Compare towns
Preston vs Sandy Hook 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).
Sandy Hook has the most people working from home (23.1%).
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 | Sandy Hook | Canterbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,821Lowest |
9,863Highest |
5,124 |
| Median age | 46.2±7 12% above CT |
43.1±3Lowest 5% 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% |
22.6%±4.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
15%±3.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Sandy Hook 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% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest 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% |
60.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
26.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Sandy Hook 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 |
$160,814±$25kHighest 68% above CT |
$103,198±$6kLowest 8% above CT |
| Sandy Hook 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 |
$501,200±$33kHighest 37% above CT |
$334,200±$12kLowest 9% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,433±$1k 4% below CT |
$1,866±$439Highest 25% above CT |
$924±$367Lowest 38% below CT |
| Sandy Hook 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$4,140Lowest 38% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±12.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
52.4%±26.6 CT: 52.6% |
40%±13Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Preston and Sandy Hook 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% |
5.6%Highest CT: 10% |
4.9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7% CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
88.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1975 8 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below CT |
35 minHighest 33% above CT |
32 min 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 10.3%±6Lowest CT: 16% |
23.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
14.7%±5.4 CT: 16% |
| Sandy Hook 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 | — | #125 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Preston School District | — | Canterbury School District |
| High school 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.