Compare towns
Preston vs Thomaston vs Killingly
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 most expensive homes ($362k median).
Thomaston has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
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 | Thomaston | Killingly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,821Lowest |
7,492 |
17,867Highest |
| Median age | 46.2±7Highest 12% above CT |
41.5±7.7 about the CT average |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
| Preston and Thomaston 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% |
20.5%±5.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
| Thomaston 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% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Preston and Killingly 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% |
34%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
| Thomaston 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 |
$103,218±$15k 8% above CT |
$84,350±$8kLowest 12% below CT |
| Preston and Thomaston 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 |
$282,600±$23kLowest 23% below CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,433±$1kHighest 4% below CT |
$1,037±$147Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,044±$141 30% below CT |
| Preston and Killingly 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 |
$5,915Highest 11% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±12.5 CT: 52.6% |
57.9%±22Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Thomaston and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.4% CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
77.7% CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
28 minHighest 5% above CT |
| Work from home | 10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
7.6%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3Highest CT: 16% |
| Killingly 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 | #106 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Preston School District | Thomaston School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS |
| High school in town | None in town | Thomaston High School | Killingly High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Lowest |
11.1Highest |
| 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.