Compare towns
Preston vs Colebrook vs Windsor Locks vs Lisbon
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).
Colebrook has the oldest population (median age 52.1).
Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Lisbon has the most kids (22.1% under 18).
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 | Colebrook | Windsor Locks | Lisbon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,821 |
1,494Lowest |
12,579Highest |
4,211 |
| Median age | 46.2±7 12% above CT |
52.1±5Highest 27% above CT |
41.4±2.6Lowest about the CT average |
44.5±5.2 8% above CT |
| Colebrook and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.4 CT: 20.2% |
17.9%±3.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4 CT: 20.2% |
22.1%±6.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Lisbon and Preston 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% |
26%±4.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
21.3%±4.3 CT: 18.5% |
| Colebrook 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% CT: 42.5% |
36.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
28.6% CT: 42.5% |
19.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±2.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Colebrook 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 |
$111,250±$17k 16% above CT |
$81,205±$13kLowest 15% below CT |
$92,708±$12k 3% below CT |
| Preston and Colebrook 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 |
$342,800±$19k 7% below CT |
$258,800±$14kLowest 29% below CT |
$315,700±$26k 14% below CT |
| Preston and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,433±$1kHighest 4% below CT |
$1,333±$626Lowest 10% 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 | $4,749 29% below CT |
$6,211Highest 7% below CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$4,044 39% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±12.5 CT: 52.6% |
42.1%±55Lowest CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8 CT: 52.6% |
100%±75.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Lisbon and Windsor Locks 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% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
10.9%Highest CT: 10% |
6.6% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7% CT: 66.5% |
91.6% CT: 66.5% |
77.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
97.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below CT |
34 minHighest 29% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
32 min 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
7%±3.8Lowest CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7Highest CT: 16% |
8.3%±3.4 CT: 16% |
| Windsor Locks and Preston 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 | — | #109 of 149 in CT | #102 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Preston School District | Colebrook School District | Windsor Locks School District | Lisbon School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Windsor Locks High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.9 |
— |
| 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.