Compare towns
Killingly vs Windsor Locks vs Preston vs Plainville
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 kids (19.8% under 18).
Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Preston has the highest household income ($117k).
Plainville has the most renters (32.3% 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 | Killingly | Windsor Locks | Preston | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867Highest |
12,579 |
4,821Lowest |
17,551 |
| Median age | 39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
41.4±2.6 about the CT average |
46.2±7Highest 12% above CT |
44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
| Preston and Plainville 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% |
18.6%±3.4 CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4 CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest 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% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
| Preston and Plainville 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% |
28.6% CT: 42.5% |
28.5% CT: 42.5% |
30%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Plainville 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 |
$81,205±$13kLowest 15% below CT |
$116,648±$27kHighest 22% above CT |
$84,343±$7k 12% below CT |
| Preston and Killingly 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 |
$258,800±$14k 29% below CT |
$361,900±$13kHighest about the CT average |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,394±$187 6% below CT |
$1,433±$1kHighest 4% below CT |
$1,126±$147 24% 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 |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$4,749 29% below CT |
$4,798Highest 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5 CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest 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% |
10.9% CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
6.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% CT: 66.5% |
77.1% CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
67.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above CT |
22 min 17% below CT |
22 min 17% below CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7Highest CT: 16% |
10.3%±6Lowest CT: 16% |
10.7%±2 CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #136 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #93 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Windsor Locks School District | Preston School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | Windsor Locks High School | None in town | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
8.9Lowest |
— | 11.4Highest |
| 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.