Compare towns

Barkhamsted vs Killingly vs Preston vs Windsor Locks

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Barkhamsted has the most people working from home (20.3%).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).

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.

MeasureBarkhamstedKillinglyPrestonWindsor Locks
People
Population
3,678Lowest
17,867Highest
4,821
12,579
Median age
50.2±3.3Highest
22% above CT
39.5±3Lowest
4% below CT
46.2±7
12% above CT
41.4±2.6
about the CT average
Barkhamsted and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.4%±3.9Lowest
CT: 20.2%
19.8%±2.3Highest
CT: 20.2%
18.7%±4.4
CT: 20.2%
18.6%±3.4
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+
27.2%±7.1Highest
CT: 18.5%
19.7%±2.4
CT: 18.5%
23%±4.7
CT: 18.5%
18.2%±2.7Lowest
CT: 18.5%
Barkhamsted and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
54.3%Highest
CT: 42.5%
22.9%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
28.5%
CT: 42.5%
28.6%
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.3%±2.7
CT: 7.1%
5.4%±1.9
CT: 7.1%
4.9%±2.4Lowest
CT: 7.1%
5.9%±1.8Highest
CT: 7.1%
Windsor Locks and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$123,544±$9kHighest
29% above CT
$84,350±$8k
12% below CT
$116,648±$27k
22% above CT
$81,205±$13kLowest
15% below CT
Barkhamsted and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$368,000±$15kHighest
about the CT average
$288,600±$15k
21% below CT
$361,900±$13k
about the CT average
$258,800±$14kLowest
29% below CT
Barkhamsted and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,164±$114
22% below CT
$1,044±$141Lowest
30% below CT
$1,433±$1kHighest
4% below CT
$1,394±$187
6% below CT
Preston and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,354Highest
4% below CT
$3,922
41% below CT
$4,749
29% below CT
$3,688Lowest
44% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
28.8%±35.4Lowest
CT: 52.6%
42.8%±10.9
CT: 52.6%
52.6%±12.5
CT: 52.6%
58.2%±16.8Highest
CT: 52.6%
Windsor Locks and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.6%
CT: 10%
11.4%Highest
CT: 10%
2.4%Lowest
CT: 10%
10.9%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.9%Highest
CT: 66.5%
71.6%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
91.7%
CT: 66.5%
77.1%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978Highest
11 yrs newer than CT
1968
1 yr newer than CT
1970
3 yrs newer than CT
1961Lowest
6 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
6% above CT
28 min
5% above CT
22 min
17% below CT
22 minLowest
17% below CT
Work from home
20.3%±7.1Highest
CT: 16%
11.1%±2.3
CT: 16%
10.3%±6Lowest
CT: 16%
17.7%±3.7
CT: 16%
Barkhamsted and Windsor Locks 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 #63 of 149 in CT #136 of 149 in CT #93 of 149 in CT #109 of 149 in CT
School district Barkhamsted School District Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Preston School District Windsor Locks School District
High school in town None in town Killingly High School None in town Windsor Locks High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.1Highest
—
8.9Lowest
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.