Compare towns
Preston vs Suffield vs Willimantic 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).
Suffield has the most people working from home (18.4%).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
Canterbury has the oldest population (median age 48.4).
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 | Suffield | Willimantic | Canterbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,821Lowest |
15,702 |
18,096Highest |
5,124 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 46.2±7 12% above CT |
44.5±1.7 8% above CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% 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% |
16.2%±2 CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
15%±3.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Willimantic 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% |
18.4%±2.2 CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest 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% |
40.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
24.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
26.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $116,648±$27k 22% above CT |
$119,472±$13kHighest 25% above CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$103,198±$6k 8% above CT |
| Suffield 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 |
$407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$334,200±$12k 9% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,433±$1kHighest 4% below CT |
$1,424±$141 4% below CT |
$1,063±$68 29% below CT |
$924±$367Lowest 38% below CT |
| Preston and Suffield 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 |
$6,456Highest about the CT average |
$4,678 30% below CT |
$4,140Lowest 38% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±12.5 CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
40%±13Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Willimantic 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% |
4.6% CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
4.9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
86.7% CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
88.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1975 8 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below CT |
26 min 3% below CT |
23 min 12% below CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
14.7%±5.4 CT: 16% |
| Suffield 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | — | #125 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Preston School District | Suffield School District | — | Canterbury School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Suffield High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9 |
— | — |
| 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.