Compare towns
Killingly vs Bethany 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).
Bethany has the highest household income ($166k).
Preston has the oldest population (median age 46.2).
Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).
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 | Killingly | Bethany | Preston | Windsor Locks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867Highest |
5,288 |
4,821Lowest |
12,579 |
| Median age | 39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
42.5±2.9 3% above CT |
46.2±7Highest 12% above CT |
41.4±2.6 about the CT average |
| Preston and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Bethany and Killingly 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% |
17.2%±4.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Preston and Killingly 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% |
58%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% |
6.8%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Bethany and Windsor Locks 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 |
$166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
$116,648±$27k 22% above CT |
$81,205±$13kLowest 15% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$418,000±$42kHighest 14% above CT |
$361,900±$13k about the CT average |
$258,800±$14kLowest 29% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Lowest 30% 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 |
$8,313Highest 25% above 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% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
2.4% CT: 10% |
10.9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
91.7% CT: 66.5% |
77.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1970Highest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1970Highest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above CT |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
22 min 17% below CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
12%±5.2 CT: 16% |
10.3%±6Lowest CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7Highest CT: 16% |
| Windsor Locks and Bethany 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 | #30 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 | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | 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.