Compare towns
Preston vs Thompson 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).
Thompson has the most people working from home (13.1%).
Voluntown has the most renters (16.5% 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 | Voluntown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,821 |
9,337Highest |
2,604Lowest |
| Median age | 46.2±7Lowest 12% above CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
48.3±1.7 18% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.5 CT: 20.2% |
| Preston and Voluntown 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% |
17.6%±3Lowest 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% |
26.7% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
3.4%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
| Preston and Voluntown 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 |
$101,964±$25k 6% above CT |
| Preston and Voluntown 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 |
$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 |
$1,012±$344Lowest 32% 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 | $4,749 29% below CT |
$3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
$4,955Highest 25% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±12.5 CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.9%±24.3Lowest 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% |
7.3%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
84.3% CT: 66.5% |
83.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1963Lowest 4 yrs older than CT |
1983Highest 16 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
31 min 18% above CT |
| Work from home | 10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
8.9%±5.4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Thompson 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #53 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Preston School District | Thompson School District | Voluntown School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.9 |
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| 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.