Compare towns
Preston vs Bloomfield 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
Preston has the most expensive homes ($362k median).
Bloomfield has the most renters (28.9% rent).
Windsor Locks has the youngest population (median age 41.4).
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 | Preston | Bloomfield | Windsor Locks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,821Lowest |
21,754Highest |
12,579 |
| Median age | 46.2±7 12% above CT |
48.4±3.3Highest 18% above CT |
41.4±2.6Lowest about the CT average |
| Bloomfield and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
13.7%±2.1Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4 CT: 20.2% |
| Preston and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23%±4.7 CT: 18.5% |
27.3%±2.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bloomfield and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
28.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Bloomfield 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 | $116,648±$27kHighest 22% above CT |
$98,725±$14k 3% above CT |
$81,205±$13kLowest 15% below CT |
| Preston and Bloomfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,900±$13kHighest about the CT average |
$286,900±$11k 22% below CT |
$258,800±$14kLowest 29% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,433±$1k 4% below CT |
$1,881±$175Highest 26% above CT |
$1,394±$187Lowest 6% below CT |
| Bloomfield and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,749 29% below CT |
$5,795Highest 13% below CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±12.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±11.2Lowest 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 | 2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.8% CT: 10% |
10.9%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
71.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
77.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1970Highest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below CT |
23 minHighest 12% below CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
| Work from home | 10.3%±6Lowest CT: 16% |
18.2%±3.1Highest CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
| Bloomfield 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 | #93 of 149 in CT | #139 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Preston School District | Bloomfield School District · Capitol Region Education Council | Windsor Locks School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Academy of International Studies 6-12 | Windsor Locks High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.1Highest |
8.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.