Compare towns

Killingly vs Barkhamsted vs Preston vs Windsor Locks

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
Barkhamsted has the most people working from home (20.3%).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k 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.

MeasureKillinglyBarkhamstedPrestonWindsor Locks
People
Population
17,867Highest
3,678Lowest
4,821
12,579
Median age
39.5±3Lowest
4% below CT
50.2±3.3Highest
22% above CT
46.2±7
12% above CT
41.4±2.6
about the CT average
Barkhamsted and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.8%±2.3Highest
CT: 20.2%
16.4%±3.9Lowest
CT: 20.2%
18.7%±4.4
CT: 20.2%
18.6%±3.4
CT: 20.2%
Killingly and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.7%±2.4
CT: 18.5%
27.2%±7.1Highest
CT: 18.5%
23%±4.7
CT: 18.5%
18.2%±2.7Lowest
CT: 18.5%
Barkhamsted and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
22.9%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
54.3%Highest
CT: 42.5%
28.5%
CT: 42.5%
28.6%
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.9
CT: 7.1%
5.3%±2.7
CT: 7.1%
4.9%±2.4Lowest
CT: 7.1%
5.9%±1.8Highest
CT: 7.1%
Windsor Locks and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$84,350±$8k
12% below CT
$123,544±$9kHighest
29% above CT
$116,648±$27k
22% above CT
$81,205±$13kLowest
15% below CT
Barkhamsted and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$288,600±$15k
21% below CT
$368,000±$15kHighest
about the CT average
$361,900±$13k
about the CT average
$258,800±$14kLowest
29% below CT
Barkhamsted and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,044±$141Lowest
30% below CT
$1,164±$114
22% below CT
$1,433±$1kHighest
4% below CT
$1,394±$187
6% below CT
Preston and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,922
41% below CT
$6,354Highest
4% below CT
$4,749
29% below CT
$3,688Lowest
44% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.8%±10.9
CT: 52.6%
28.8%±35.4Lowest
CT: 52.6%
52.6%±12.5
CT: 52.6%
58.2%±16.8Highest
CT: 52.6%
Windsor Locks and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.4%Highest
CT: 10%
3.6%
CT: 10%
2.4%Lowest
CT: 10%
10.9%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.6%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
92.9%Highest
CT: 66.5%
91.7%
CT: 66.5%
77.1%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968
1 yr newer than CT
1978Highest
11 yrs newer than CT
1970
3 yrs newer than CT
1961Lowest
6 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
5% above CT
28 minHighest
6% above CT
22 min
17% below CT
22 minLowest
17% below CT
Work from home
11.1%±2.3
CT: 16%
20.3%±7.1Highest
CT: 16%
10.3%±6Lowest
CT: 16%
17.7%±3.7
CT: 16%
Barkhamsted and Windsor Locks 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 #136 of 149 in CT #63 of 149 in CT #93 of 149 in CT #109 of 149 in CT
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Barkhamsted School District Preston School District Windsor Locks School District
High school in town Killingly High School None in town None in town Windsor Locks High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1Highest
— —
8.9Lowest
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.