Compare towns
Preston vs Sterling 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 shortest commute (22 min average).
Sterling has the most people working from home (11.6%).
Lisbon has the most homeowners (97.9%).
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 | Sterling | Lisbon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,821Highest |
3,629Lowest |
4,211 |
| Median age | 46.2±7Highest 12% above CT |
39.4±5.9Lowest 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%±4.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
22.1%±6.4 CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Lisbon 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% |
13%±3.8Lowest 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%Highest CT: 42.5% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
19.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
| Preston and Lisbon 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 |
$102,695±$12k 7% above CT |
$92,708±$12kLowest 3% below CT |
| Preston and Sterling 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 |
$283,400±$17kLowest 23% below CT |
$315,700±$26k 14% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,433±$1k 4% below CT |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,749Highest 29% below CT |
$4,551 31% below CT |
$4,044Lowest 39% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±12.5 CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest 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% |
8.3%Highest CT: 10% |
6.6% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7% CT: 66.5% |
81.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
97.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
32 min 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
8.3%±3.4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Sterling 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 | #119 of 149 in CT | #102 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Preston School District | Sterling School District | Lisbon 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.