Compare towns
Harwinton vs Preston vs Windham
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).
Windham has the most renters (52.6% rent).
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 | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,575 |
4,821Lowest |
23,961Highest |
| Median age | 46.1±4.3 12% above CT |
46.2±7Highest 12% above CT |
33.7±1.9Lowest 18% below 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%±4.2 CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±2.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Windham and Harwinton 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% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest 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% |
22.7%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±2.9 CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $129,643±$18kHighest 35% above CT |
$116,648±$27k 22% above CT |
$55,736±$5kLowest 42% 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 |
$209,800±$9kLowest 43% 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 |
$1,107±$69Lowest 26% 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 |
$4,749 29% below CT |
$4,633Lowest 30% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±27.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5 CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Windham 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% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
20.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93%Highest CT: 66.5% |
91.7% CT: 66.5% |
47.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1970Highest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 3% below CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
24 min 8% below CT |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.7Highest CT: 16% |
10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest 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 | #143 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 10 | Preston School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8 |
| 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.