Compare towns
Harwinton vs Preston vs Torrington
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 most people working from home (13.5%).
Preston has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Torrington has the most affordable homes ($216k 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 | Harwinton | Preston | Torrington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,575 |
4,821Lowest |
35,547Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -2.4% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 46.1±4.3 12% above CT |
46.2±7Highest 12% above CT |
42.9±1.8Lowest 4% 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 | 20%±4.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4 CT: 20.2% |
17.9%±1.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Harwinton and Preston 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% |
23%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.2%±1.5Lowest 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+ | 40.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
28.5% CT: 42.5% |
24.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±2.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
4.7%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Harwinton and Preston 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 |
$116,648±$27k 22% above CT |
$70,856±$5kLowest 26% below CT |
| 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 |
$361,900±$13kHighest about the CT average |
$215,500±$8kLowest 41% 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 |
$1,433±$1k 4% below CT |
$1,169±$43Lowest 21% 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 |
$4,749Lowest 29% below CT |
$5,042 24% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±27.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
48%±6.3 CT: 52.6% |
| Preston and Torrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
13.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93%Highest CT: 66.5% |
91.7% CT: 66.5% |
66.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1970Highest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 3% below CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.7Highest CT: 16% |
10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
9%±1.6Lowest CT: 16% |
| Harwinton and Preston 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 | #93 of 149 in CT | #132 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 10 | Preston School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Torrington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Torrington High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.9 |
| 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.