Compare towns
Durham vs Harwinton vs Killingly vs Preston
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 most people working from home (20.5%).
Harwinton has the most kids (20% under 18).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
Preston has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Harwinton | Killingly | Preston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,208 |
5,575 |
17,867Highest |
4,821Lowest |
| Median age | 45.5±2.8 11% above CT |
46.1±4.3 12% above CT |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
46.2±7Highest 12% above CT |
| Preston and Harwinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20%±4.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4 CT: 20.2% |
| Harwinton and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±3.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
22.1%±3.5 CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
23%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Preston and Harwinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
40.3% CT: 42.5% |
22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
28.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.7%±2.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Harwinton and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $158,857±$7kHighest 66% above CT |
$129,643±$18k 35% above CT |
$84,350±$8kLowest 12% below CT |
$116,648±$27k 22% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $424,800±$23kHighest 16% above CT |
$352,100±$16k 4% below CT |
$288,600±$15kLowest 21% below CT |
$361,900±$13k about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,154±$448 22% below CT |
$1,504±$200Highest about the CT average |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,433±$1k 4% below CT |
| Harwinton and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,998Highest 20% above CT |
$5,503 17% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$4,749 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±28.4 CT: 52.6% |
27.8%±27.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Preston and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% CT: 10% |
4.8% CT: 10% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
93% CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
91.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below CT |
26 min 3% below CT |
28 minHighest 5% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
13.5%±4.7 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
10.3%±6Lowest CT: 16% |
| Durham and Harwinton 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 | #34 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #93 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 13 | Regional School District 10 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Preston School District |
| High school in town | Coginchaug Regional High School | None in town | Killingly High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Lowest |
— | 11.1Highest |
— |
| 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.