Compare towns
Bethany vs Preston vs Windsor Locks vs Durham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bethany has the most kids (20.3% under 18).
Preston has the oldest population (median age 46.2).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Durham has the most people working from home (20.5%).
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 | Bethany | Preston | Windsor Locks | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,288 |
4,821Lowest |
12,579Highest |
7,208 |
| Median age | 42.5±2.9 3% above CT |
46.2±7Highest 12% above CT |
41.4±2.6Lowest about the CT average |
45.5±2.8 11% above CT |
| Preston and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4 CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Bethany and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±4.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Preston and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58%Highest CT: 42.5% |
28.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
28.6% CT: 42.5% |
47.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Bethany and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
$116,648±$27k 22% above CT |
$81,205±$13kLowest 15% below CT |
$158,857±$7k 66% above CT |
| Bethany and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $418,000±$42k 14% above CT |
$361,900±$13k about the CT average |
$258,800±$14kLowest 29% below CT |
$424,800±$23kHighest 16% above CT |
| Durham and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,433±$1kHighest 4% below CT |
$1,394±$187 6% below CT |
$1,154±$448Lowest 22% 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 | $8,313Highest 25% above CT |
$4,749 29% below CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$7,998 20% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5 CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±28.4 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 | 2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
2.4% CT: 10% |
10.9%Highest CT: 10% |
3.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
91.7% CT: 66.5% |
77.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
93.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above CT |
22 min 17% below CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
23 min 13% below CT |
| Work from home | 12%±5.2 CT: 16% |
10.3%±6Lowest CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
20.5%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
| Durham 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 | #30 of 149 in CT | #93 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #88 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Preston School District | Windsor Locks School District | Regional School District 13 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Windsor Locks High School | Coginchaug Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.9 |
8.9 |
| 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.