Compare towns
Harwinton vs Prospect vs Reading vs Durham
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 most affordable homes ($352k median).
Prospect has the oldest population (median age 46.8).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k median).
Durham has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,575Lowest |
9,458 |
25,612Highest |
7,208 |
| 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. |
45.5±2.8 17% 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%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.6Lowest 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%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest 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% |
47.9% 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% |
3.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Harwinton and Durham 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. |
$158,857±$7k 97% above U.S. |
| Reading and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| 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. |
$424,800±$23k 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,504±$200 6% above U.S. |
$1,800±$433 27% above U.S. |
$1,991±$273Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,154±$448Lowest 18% below 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. |
$7,998 156% 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% |
44.9%±28.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Prospect and Durham 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% |
3.4% 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% |
93.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below 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% |
20.5%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Durham 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 | #50 of 149 in CT | #50 of 282 in MA | #88 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 10 | Regional School District 16 | Reading | Regional School District 13 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Reading Memorial High | Coginchaug Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.1Highest |
8.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.