Compare towns
Voluntown vs Killingly vs Chaplin vs Preston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Voluntown has the oldest population (median age 48.3).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
Chaplin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Preston has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Voluntown | Killingly | Chaplin | Preston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,604 |
17,867Highest |
2,070Lowest |
4,821 |
| Median age | 48.3±1.7Highest 18% above CT |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
46.2±7 12% above CT |
| Voluntown and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±3.5 CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4 CT: 20.2% |
| Killingly and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
23%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Preston and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.7% CT: 42.5% |
22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
25.4% CT: 42.5% |
28.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,964±$25k 6% above CT |
$84,350±$8kLowest 12% below CT |
$97,846±$14k about the CT average |
$116,648±$27kHighest 22% 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 | $356,100±$16k about the CT average |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
$361,900±$13kHighest 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 | $1,166±$191 22% below CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
$1,433±$1k 4% below CT |
| Chaplin and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,955Highest 25% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$4,524 32% below CT |
$4,749 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±24.3 CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Preston and Voluntown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.3% CT: 10% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
5.4% CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.5% CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
82.9% CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 16 yrs newer than CT |
1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
32 minHighest 22% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
| Work from home | 8.9%±5.4Lowest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
18.1%±10Highest CT: 16% |
10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
| Chaplin 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 | #53 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | — | #93 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Voluntown School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Preston School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Killingly High School | Parish Hill High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
7.5Lowest |
— |
| 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.