Compare towns
Preston vs Thomaston vs Voluntown
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).
Thomaston has the most affordable homes ($283k median).
Voluntown has the oldest population (median age 48.3).
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 | Voluntown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,821 |
7,492Highest |
2,604Lowest |
| Median age | 46.2±7 12% above CT |
41.5±7.7Lowest about the CT average |
48.3±1.7Highest 18% above CT |
| Voluntown 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% |
20.5%±5.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Thomaston and Preston 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%±3.6 CT: 18.5% |
17.6%±3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Preston and Thomaston 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% |
26.7%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.4%±1.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Thomaston 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 |
$103,218±$15k 8% above CT |
$101,964±$25kLowest 6% above 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 |
$356,100±$16k about the CT average |
| Preston and Voluntown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,433±$1kHighest 4% below CT |
$1,037±$147Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,166±$191 22% below CT |
| Preston and Voluntown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,749Lowest 29% below CT |
$5,915Highest 11% below CT |
$4,955 25% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±12.5 CT: 52.6% |
57.9%±22Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.9%±24.3Lowest 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% |
7.3%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
77.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
83.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1983Highest 16 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
31 minHighest 18% above CT |
| Work from home | 10.3%±6Highest CT: 16% |
7.6%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
8.9%±5.4 CT: 16% |
| Preston and Voluntown 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 | #53 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Preston School District | Thomaston School District | Voluntown School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Thomaston High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— |
| 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.