Preston, CT Real Estate and Homes for Sale

Preston, Connecticut, is a rural town east of Norwich and north of Ledyard, about 15 to 20 minutes from Naval Submarine Base New London. About two-thirds of the town is woodland or farmland. This guide covers Preston City, Poquetanuck, Long Society and Hallville: what it is like to live here, things to do, places to eat, and what to know before buying or selling a home.

Preston is east of Norwich and north of Ledyard. Rivers mark much of its edge: the Quinebaug on the north, the Shetucket along part of the Norwich line, and the Thames on the west, facing Montville. About two-thirds of the town is woodland or farmland, and most of its housing is single-family homes.

Preston has three historic villages, along with smaller communities such as Hallville:

• Preston City. The original town center, where Route 164 meets Route 165. Its 25-acre historic district has houses in Georgian, Federal and Greek Revival styles and the Preston City Baptist Church of 1812.
• Poquetanuck. A village on Poquetanuck Cove, an inlet of the Thames, with a historic district of mostly 18th-century and early 19th-century houses.
• Long Society. The third historic village, home to the Long Society Meetinghouse of 1819.
• Hallville. A 19th-century mill village on Route 2A overlooking Hallville Pond, with former worker housing.

Route 2 crosses the southern part of town between Norwich and Foxwoods Resort Casino. Route 12 runs between Norwich and Ledyard on the way to Groton. Route 2A runs from Route 2 through Poquetanuck and over the Mohegan-Pequot Bridge to Mohegan Sun and Interstate 395. Route 164 runs from Route 2 through Preston City to Interstate 395 in Griswold, and Route 165 runs from Norwich through Preston toward Voluntown.

Foxwoods is just outside Preston, and Mohegan Sun is across the bridge in Montville. Norwich and Groton are the main job centers nearby, and Naval Submarine Base New London is south on Route 12, about 15 to 20 minutes from Poquetanuck.

Preston's recreation is mostly outdoors, on its lakes, state land and farms.

• Preston Community Park. The Town's park on Route 117 near the Ledyard line has ball fields, tennis and basketball courts, a playground, a pavilion and walking paths.
• Amos Lake. The largest lake in town at 113 acres, with a state boat launch on Preston Plains Road.
• Avery Pond. A 36-acre pond with a smaller state boat launch on Lynn Drive.
• Rose Hill Wildlife Management Area. 874 acres of state wildlife land in Preston and Ledyard.
• Poquetanuck Cove. A tidal estuary and state-designated bird sanctuary. The Nature Conservancy's 234-acre preserve, on the Ledyard side, has a 1.5-mile loop trail.
• Strawberry Park. A resort campground on Pierce Road with RV sites, cabins and pools.
• Maple Lane Farms. A 225-acre farm that opens to the public for cut-your-own Christmas trees after Thanksgiving.

More ideas: Things to do in Preston on Tripadvisor.

Places to eat in Preston are few and small, mostly pizza restaurants along Routes 2, 12 and 165. Preston Ridge Vineyard on Miller Road has a tasting room, a weekend music series in season, food trucks and a disc golf course. Maple Lane Farms opens for cut-your-own Christmas trees after Thanksgiving. Weekends often mean a boat on Amos Lake, the fields and courts at Preston Community Park or camping at Strawberry Park. Foxwoods, just outside town on Route 2, and Mohegan Sun, across the Thames, add many more restaurants.

• Preston Ridge Vineyard. Vineyard and tasting room on Miller Road with live music and food trucks in season.

More places to eat: Restaurants in Preston on Tripadvisor.

Wells and septic. Much of Preston has no public water or sewer, so many homes rely on a private well and a septic system. The regional hazard plan says the City of Norwich provides sewer service in southwestern Preston and several water companies serve particular areas. Buyers should confirm the utilities for each address and plan for a well water test and a septic inspection.

Land and older homes. Properties here often come with acreage, barns, fields or woodland, so buyers should confirm boundaries, wetlands and easements. Preston City, Poquetanuck and Hallville each have a National Register historic district with 18th-century and 19th-century houses, where a thorough inspection matters.

Flooding. The hazard plan names Poquetanuck Road (Route 2A) and Lynn Drive among the roads most likely to flood, and notes that homes on Kendall Road and Drawbridge Road could be affected by hurricane storm surge. Flood insurance is required on government-backed mortgages for homes in high-risk zones, and most homeowners policies do not cover flood damage. Buyers should check the FEMA flood map and get a quote early.

The former Norwich State Hospital property. The State transferred about 390 acres of the former hospital grounds beside the Thames to the Town in 2009. In 2016 the Town and the Mohegan Tribe reached an agreement to redevelop it, a project known as Preston Riverwalk. Ask the Town for the current status.

VA loans. For eligible buyers, a VA-backed purchase loan can mean no down payment and no private mortgage insurance, and the buyer must live in the home.

Schools. Preston Public Schools operates Preston Veterans' Memorial School and Preston Plains Middle School, which together serve prekindergarten through grade 8. The district does not run a high school. It lists options that include Norwich Free Academy, Ledyard High School, Griswold High School, Wheeler High School and area technical and magnet schools. School information is available from the district. For school profiles from an independent source, see Preston School District on Niche.com.

Pricing a Preston home starts with a comparative market analysis. Homes here range from village houses to farm properties, so comparable sales have to be chosen with care. The buyer pool includes people who want land and people who work in Norwich, in Groton or at the two casinos. Professional photography, video and a 3D tour show the house, and drone footage shows acreage, fields and outbuildings.