Compare towns
Preston vs Thompson 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).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
Canterbury has the most people working from home (14.7%).
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 | Thompson | Canterbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,821Lowest |
9,337Highest |
5,124 |
| Median age | 46.2±7Lowest 12% above CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
48.4±4.5 18% above CT |
| Thompson and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
15%±3.5 CT: 20.2% |
| Preston and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23%±4.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.4%±4.3 CT: 18.5% |
25.5%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Canterbury and Thompson 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% |
21.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
26.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±2 CT: 7.1% |
| Preston and Canterbury 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 |
$93,629±$18kLowest about the CT average |
$103,198±$6k 8% above CT |
| Preston and Canterbury 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 |
$291,900±$24kLowest 20% below CT |
$334,200±$12k 9% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,433±$1kHighest 4% below CT |
$1,012±$344 32% below CT |
$924±$367Lowest 38% below CT |
| Preston and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,749Highest 29% below CT |
$3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
$4,140 38% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±12.5 CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
40%±13Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Thompson 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% |
5.9%Highest CT: 10% |
4.9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
84.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
88.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1963Lowest 4 yrs older than CT |
1975Highest 8 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 10.3%±6Lowest CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
14.7%±5.4Highest CT: 16% |
| Canterbury and Thompson 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #125 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Preston School District | Thompson School District | Canterbury School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.9 |
— |
| 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.