Compare towns
Ellington 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
Ellington has the most kids (24% under 18).
Preston has the most homeowners (91.7%).
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.
| Measure | Ellington | Preston | Windsor Locks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,455Highest |
4,821Lowest |
12,579 |
| Median age | 40.9±2.4Lowest about the CT average |
46.2±7Highest 12% above CT |
41.4±2.6 about the CT average |
| Preston and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±3.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Ellington and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
23%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Preston and Ellington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
28.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
28.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6%±2.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Ellington 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 | $129,913±$17kHighest 36% above CT |
$116,648±$27k 22% above CT |
$81,205±$13kLowest 15% below CT |
| Ellington and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $366,900±$17kHighest about the CT average |
$361,900±$13k about the CT average |
$258,800±$14kLowest 29% below CT |
| Ellington and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,737±$212Highest 17% above CT |
$1,433±$1k 4% below CT |
$1,394±$187Lowest 6% below CT |
| Ellington and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,751Highest about the CT average |
$4,749 29% below CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±10.3Lowest 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 | 2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.9%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
77.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above CT |
22 min 17% below CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
| Work from home | 18.4%±3.9Highest CT: 16% |
10.3%±6Lowest CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
| Ellington 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 | #46 of 149 in CT | #93 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Ellington School District | Preston School District | Windsor Locks School District |
| High school in town | Ellington High School | None in town | Windsor Locks High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Highest |
— | 8.9Lowest |
| 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.