Compare towns

Thomaston vs Killingly vs Preston vs Morris

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Thomaston has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
Preston has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Morris has the most people working from home (18.4%).

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.

MeasureThomastonKillinglyPrestonMorris
People
Population
7,492
17,867Highest
4,821
2,164Lowest
Median age
41.5±7.7
about the CT average
39.5±3Lowest
4% below CT
46.2±7
12% above CT
52.8±6.5Highest
28% above CT
Morris and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.5%±5.2Highest
CT: 20.2%
19.8%±2.3
CT: 20.2%
18.7%±4.4
CT: 20.2%
17.9%±4.5Lowest
CT: 20.2%
Thomaston and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.6%±3.6Lowest
CT: 18.5%
19.7%±2.4
CT: 18.5%
23%±4.7
CT: 18.5%
29.3%±6.6Highest
CT: 18.5%
Morris and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
34%
CT: 42.5%
22.9%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
28.5%
CT: 42.5%
41.5%Highest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.5%±2.1Highest
CT: 7.1%
5.4%±1.9
CT: 7.1%
4.9%±2.4Lowest
CT: 7.1%
5.2%±3
CT: 7.1%
Thomaston and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$103,218±$15k
8% above CT
$84,350±$8kLowest
12% below CT
$116,648±$27kHighest
22% above CT
$109,191±$25k
14% above CT
Preston and Morris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$282,600±$23kLowest
23% below CT
$288,600±$15k
21% below CT
$361,900±$13k
about the CT average
$396,000±$60kHighest
8% above CT
Morris and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,037±$147Lowest
30% below CT
$1,044±$141
30% below CT
$1,433±$1kHighest
4% below CT
$1,204±$134
19% below CT
Preston and Morris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,915Highest
11% below CT
$3,922Lowest
41% below CT
$4,749
29% below CT
$5,273
21% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57.9%±22Highest
CT: 52.6%
42.8%±10.9Lowest
CT: 52.6%
52.6%±12.5
CT: 52.6%
57.1%±31.9
CT: 52.6%
Thomaston and Morris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.3%Lowest
CT: 10%
11.4%Highest
CT: 10%
2.4%
CT: 10%
6.8%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
77.7%
CT: 66.5%
71.6%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
91.7%Highest
CT: 66.5%
89.4%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1961Lowest
6 yrs older than CT
1968
1 yr newer than CT
1970Highest
3 yrs newer than CT
1967
same as CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the CT average
28 min
5% above CT
22 minLowest
17% below CT
29 minHighest
11% above CT
Work from home
7.6%±3.7Lowest
CT: 16%
11.1%±2.3
CT: 16%
10.3%±6
CT: 16%
18.4%±5.7Highest
CT: 16%
Morris 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 #106 of 149 in CT #136 of 149 in CT #93 of 149 in CT —
School district Thomaston School District Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Preston School District Regional School District 20
High school in town Thomaston High School Killingly High School None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
10.7Lowest
11.1Highest
— —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.