Compare towns
Durham vs Preston vs Hartland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has the highest household income ($152k).
Preston has the most kids (18.7% under 18).
Hartland has the most people working from home (22%).
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 | Durham | Preston | Hartland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,347 |
4,821Highest |
1,840Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +28.6% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 47.9±5.4 17% above CT |
46.2±7Lowest 12% above CT |
48.8±4.9Highest 19% above CT |
| Hartland and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15%±4.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
16%±3.4 CT: 20.2% |
| Preston and Hartland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±4.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
21.9%±3.2 CT: 18.5% |
| Preston and Hartland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
28.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
39.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Preston and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $152,396±$32kHighest 59% above CT |
$116,648±$27k 22% above CT |
$113,375±$13kLowest 18% above CT |
| Durham and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $401,700±$32kHighest 9% above CT |
$361,900±$13k about the CT average |
$350,700±$21kLowest 4% below CT |
| Durham and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$1k 9% above CT |
$1,433±$1kLowest 4% below CT |
$1,819±$478Highest 22% above CT |
| Hartland and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,107Highest 7% above CT |
$4,749Lowest 29% below CT |
$5,633 15% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±35Highest CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5 CT: 52.6% |
0%±54.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Durham and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.1%Highest CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
4.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 8 yrs newer than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
35 minHighest 32% above CT |
| Work from home | 20%±6.7 CT: 16% |
10.3%±6Lowest CT: 16% |
22%±4.6Highest CT: 16% |
| Hartland and Durham 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 | #88 of 149 in CT | #93 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | — | Preston School District | Hartland School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.