Compare towns
Thomaston vs Killingly vs Preston vs Watertown
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 highest household income ($117k).
Watertown has the oldest population (median age 46.3).
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 | Thomaston | Killingly | Preston | Watertown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,492 |
17,867 |
4,821Lowest |
22,253Highest |
| Median age | 41.5±7.7 about the CT average |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
46.2±7 12% above CT |
46.3±2.9Highest 13% above CT |
| Watertown 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% |
17.7%±2.6Lowest 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% |
23.3%±2.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Watertown 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% |
38.6%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%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.4Lowest 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 |
$101,691±$7k 6% above CT |
| Preston and Thomaston 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±$13kHighest about the CT average |
$333,500±$16k 9% below CT |
| Preston and Watertown 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 |
$1,275±$227 14% below CT |
| Preston and Watertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,915 11% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$4,749 29% below CT |
$6,014Highest 9% 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% |
56.6%±13.3 CT: 52.6% |
| Thomaston and Watertown 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% |
4.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.7% CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
83.9% 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 |
1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
28 minHighest 5% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
24 min 10% below CT |
| Work from home | 7.6%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3Highest CT: 16% |
10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
10.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
| Killingly 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 | #106 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #93 of 149 in CT | #126 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 | Watertown School District |
| High school in town | Thomaston High School | Killingly High School | None in town | Watertown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
11.1Highest |
— | 10.6Lowest |
| 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.