Compare towns
Harwinton vs Killingly vs Preston vs Thompson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Harwinton has the highest household income ($130k).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
Preston has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Harwinton | Killingly | Preston | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,575 |
17,867Highest |
4,821Lowest |
9,337 |
| Median age | 46.1±4.3 12% above CT |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
46.2±7 12% above CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
| Thompson and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±4.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4 CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest 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+ | 22.1%±3.5 CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23%±4.7 CT: 18.5% |
24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Thompson and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
28.5% CT: 42.5% |
21.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±2.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest 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 | $129,643±$18kHighest 35% above CT |
$84,350±$8kLowest 12% below CT |
$116,648±$27k 22% above CT |
$93,629±$18k about the CT average |
| Harwinton and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $352,100±$16k 4% below CT |
$288,600±$15kLowest 21% below CT |
$361,900±$13kHighest about the CT average |
$291,900±$24k 20% below CT |
| Preston and Harwinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,504±$200Highest about the CT average |
$1,044±$141 30% below CT |
$1,433±$1k 4% below CT |
$1,012±$344Lowest 32% 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 | $5,503Highest 17% below CT |
$3,922 41% below CT |
$4,749 29% below CT |
$3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±27.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5 CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Thompson and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% CT: 10% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93%Highest CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
91.7% CT: 66.5% |
84.3% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1970Highest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1963 4 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.7Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
10.3%±6Lowest CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
| Harwinton and Thompson 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 | #34 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #93 of 149 in CT | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 10 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Preston School District | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Killingly High School | None in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
— | 7.9Lowest |
| 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.