Compare towns
Preston vs Willimantic vs Lisbon
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).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
Lisbon has the most kids (22.1% under 18).
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 | Willimantic | Lisbon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,821 |
18,096Highest |
4,211Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 46.2±7Highest 12% above CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
44.5±5.2 8% above CT |
| Preston and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
22.1%±6.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Lisbon and Willimantic 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% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
21.3%±4.3 CT: 18.5% |
| Preston and Lisbon 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% |
24.2% CT: 42.5% |
19.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±2.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $116,648±$27kHighest 22% above CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$92,708±$12k 3% below CT |
| Preston and Lisbon 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 |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$315,700±$26k 14% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,433±$1kHighest 4% below CT |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
— |
| Preston and Willimantic 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 |
$4,678 30% below CT |
$4,044Lowest 39% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±12.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
100%±75.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Lisbon and Willimantic 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% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
6.6% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7% CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
97.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below CT |
23 min 12% below CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 10.3%±6Highest CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
8.3%±3.4 CT: 16% |
| Preston and Lisbon 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 | — | #102 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Preston School District | — | Lisbon School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.