Compare towns
Preston vs Thompson 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 highest household income ($117k).
Thompson has the most people working from home (13.1%).
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 | Thompson | Killingly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,821Lowest |
9,337 |
17,867Highest |
| Median age | 46.2±7 12% above CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
| Thompson 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% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Killingly 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% |
24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Thompson 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%Highest CT: 42.5% |
21.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Killingly 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 |
$93,629±$18k about the CT average |
$84,350±$8kLowest 12% below CT |
| Preston and Thompson 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±$24k 20% below CT |
$288,600±$15kLowest 21% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,433±$1kHighest 4% below CT |
$1,012±$344Lowest 32% 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 | $4,749Highest 29% below CT |
$3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
$3,922 41% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±12.5 CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest 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% CT: 10% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
84.3% CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1963Lowest 4 yrs older than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
| Work from home | 10.3%±6Lowest CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
| Thompson and Killingly 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 | #136 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Preston School District | Thompson School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS |
| High school in town | None in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Killingly High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.9Lowest |
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.