Compare towns
Harwinton vs Prospect vs Reading
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Harwinton has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Prospect has the oldest population (median age 46.8).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k 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 | Prospect | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,575Lowest |
9,458 |
25,612Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.1±4.3 19% above U.S. |
46.8±3.9Highest 20% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Prospect and Harwinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Reading and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Prospect 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
66.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Harwinton and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $129,643±$18k 61% above U.S. |
$126,394±$18kLowest 57% above U.S. |
$165,912±$13kHighest 106% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $352,100±$16kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$355,400±$21k 7% above U.S. |
$809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,504±$200Lowest 6% above U.S. |
$1,800±$433 27% above U.S. |
$1,991±$273Highest 41% above U.S. |
| Reading and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,503Lowest 76% above U.S. |
$6,504 109% above U.S. |
$9,320Highest 199% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±27.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.3%±31.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Prospect and Harwinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.1%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #34 of 149 in CT | #50 of 149 in CT | #50 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Regional School District 10 | Regional School District 16 | Reading |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Reading Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.