Living in Preston, CT
Preston is a 30.83 square mile New London County town on the Thames River side of eastern Connecticut, with the village of Poquetanuck and a long list of town preserves and water access points.
Preston at a glance
- Median sale price
- $487,050+21.2% vs last year 54 sales, last 12 months
- Property tax rate
- 25.52 mills town-wide, FY2027
- Estimated yearly tax
- ~$8,700 median-priced home
- Population
- 4,855 2024 Census estimate
- Land area
- 30.8 sq mi 157 per sq mi
What it is like in Preston
Preston is in New London County and covers 30.83 square miles with a population of 4,855. It borders Norwich, Lisbon, Ledyard, Griswold, North Stonington and Montville.
Poquetanuck is a village in Preston near Poquetanuck Cove, an inlet that opens to the Thames River. Preston City has a historic district that includes the Preston City Congregational Church, and the Hallville Mill Historic District on Hallville Pond is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The town lists these open spaces: Preston Highway Park, Downer-Doanes Park, Alejo Park, Preston Nature Preserve, Blueberry Hill Preserve, Choate Brook Preserve, Jean and Hobart Mitchell Preserve and Hollowell Brook Preserve. Water access points are listed at Avery Pond, Amos Lake and the Thames River, and Poquetanuck Sedge Beds is also listed.
Strawberry Park, a campground at 42 Pierce Road, is also in town.
Getting around from Preston
| Drive to | Time | Miles |
|---|---|---|
| Hartford | 65 min | 46 |
| New Haven | 81 min | 60 |
| Stamford | 136 min | 99 |
| New York City (Midtown) | 189 min | 135 |
| Boston | 129 min | 99 |
| Providence | 69 min | 49 |
| Bradley Airport (BDL) | 87 min | 59 |
Rail
No passenger rail station within 8 miles.
Highways and routes
Routes 2A, 12, 117 and 165 run through town. By car, Providence is 49 miles (69 minutes) away, Hartford 46 miles (65 minutes), Boston 99 miles (129 minutes), New Haven 60 miles (81 minutes) and Midtown New York 135 miles (189 minutes). Bradley Airport is 59 miles (87 minutes) away.
No rail stations are listed for Preston in our data.
Schools in Preston
2 public schools in Preston School District. Which one serves an address depends on the district, so confirm with them.
Elementary 1
- Preston Veterans' Memorial
Middle 1
- Preston Plains
Grades, number of students. Hover a school for its address.
For report cards, enrollment trends and spending per student, look up Preston School District on the state's EdSight site.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Common Core of Data. We do not rate or rank schools.
Eat, drink and explore in Preston
Open Preston in Google Maps →Things to do and see 1
-
Hilltop vineyard with wine tastings and sales, a disc golf course and weekend events.
Parks, preserves and trails 19
Show 5 more parks and conservation parcels
Parks and open space © OpenStreetMap contributors. Places to eat and visit last checked October 2026. These are not paid placements; they are simply our selection. Hours and menus change, so check before you go.
Preston housing market
Over the last 12 months, 54 homes sold in Preston with a median sale price of $487,050 and a median of 12 days on market. There are 9 homes for sale right now.
Homes sold for a median of $248 per square foot. The typical home sold for 100% of its list price, and the median sale price is up 21.2% from the year before. At the current pace of sales, the homes for sale would last about 2 months.
Preston's town-wide property tax rate is 25.52 mills (FY2027). Connecticut assesses homes at 70% of market value, so a median-priced home pays roughly $8,700 a year. Special taxing districts, such as fire districts, can add to this, and a home's actual assessment may differ from its sale price.
Source: SmartMLS, residential sales (single-family, condo and multi-family); mill rates: Connecticut Office of Policy and Management. Updated November 10, 2026.
Homes for sale in Preston
See all 9 →
Know before you move
Official and independent sources worth bookmarking if you are considering Preston.
Questions about Preston
What is the median home price in Preston, CT?
The median sale price in Preston is $487,050, based on 54 home sales in the last 12 months (SmartMLS). Updated November 10, 2026.
What is the property tax rate in Preston, CT?
Preston's town-wide property tax rate is 25.52 mills (fiscal year 2027). Connecticut assesses homes at 70% of market value, so a median-priced home pays roughly $8,700 a year. Special taxing districts can add to this.
How far is Preston, CT from Hartford?
Preston is about 46 miles and a 65-minute drive from downtown Hartford, measured from the town center without traffic.
How far is Preston, CT from New York City?
Preston is about 135 miles from Midtown Manhattan, roughly a 189-minute drive without traffic.
What is the population of Preston, CT?
Preston has about 4,855 residents (U.S. Census Bureau estimate, 2024) and covers 30.8 square miles.
How many public schools are in Preston, CT?
Preston has 2 public schools in Preston School District. Which school serves an address depends on the district's boundaries, so confirm with the district.
How many homes are for sale in Preston, CT?
There are 9 homes for sale in Preston right now, per SmartMLS, as of November 10, 2026.
How far is Preston from Providence?
Providence is 49 miles away, about 69 minutes by car.
What is Poquetanuck?
Poquetanuck is a village within Preston, located near Poquetanuck Cove, which opens to the Thames River.
Which towns border Preston?
Norwich, Lisbon, Ledyard, Griswold, North Stonington and Montville.
Where can I get on the water in Preston?
The town lists water access at Avery Pond, Amos Lake and the Thames River.
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