Compare towns
Preston vs Williamsburg vs Canterbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Preston has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Williamsburg has the most people working from home (26.5%).
Canterbury has the most affordable homes ($334k median).
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 | Williamsburg | Canterbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,821 |
2,694Lowest |
5,124Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 46.2±7Lowest 19% above U.S. |
50±2.4Highest 29% above U.S. |
48.4±4.5 24% above U.S. |
| Williamsburg 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±4 U.S.: 22% |
15%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Preston and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Canterbury 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williamsburg 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 44% above U.S. |
$104,792±$21k 30% above U.S. |
$103,198±$6kLowest 28% above U.S. |
| Preston and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,900±$13k 9% above U.S. |
$403,100±$37kHighest 21% above U.S. |
$334,200±$12kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Williamsburg and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,433±$1kHighest about the U.S. average |
$1,420±$228 about the U.S. average |
$924±$367Lowest 35% below U.S. |
| Preston and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,749 52% above U.S. |
$5,761Highest 85% above U.S. |
$4,140Lowest 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
61%±28Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±13Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williamsburg and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.3%±6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.5%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.7%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williamsburg and Canterbury 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 | — | #125 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Preston School District | Williamsburg | Canterbury School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.