Compare towns
Preston vs Lisbon vs Harwinton
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 shortest commute (22 min average).
Lisbon has the most kids (22.1% under 18).
Harwinton has the most people working from home (13.5%).
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 | Lisbon | Harwinton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,821 |
4,211Lowest |
5,575Highest |
| Median age | 46.2±7Highest 12% above CT |
44.5±5.2Lowest 8% above CT |
46.1±4.3 12% above CT |
| Preston and Harwinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.1%±6.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
20%±4.2 CT: 20.2% |
| Lisbon and Harwinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
21.3%±4.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
22.1%±3.5 CT: 18.5% |
| Preston and Harwinton 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% |
19.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±2.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.7%±2.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Harwinton and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $116,648±$27k 22% above CT |
$92,708±$12kLowest 3% below CT |
$129,643±$18kHighest 35% above CT |
| Harwinton and Preston 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 |
$315,700±$26kLowest 14% below CT |
$352,100±$16k 4% below CT |
| Preston and Harwinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,433±$1kLowest 4% below CT |
— | $1,504±$200Highest about the CT average |
| Harwinton 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 |
$4,044Lowest 39% below CT |
$5,503Highest 17% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±12.5 CT: 52.6% |
100%±75.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
27.8%±27.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Lisbon 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% |
6.6%Highest CT: 10% |
4.8% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
97.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
93% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
26 min 3% below CT |
| Work from home | 10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
8.3%±3.4Lowest CT: 16% |
13.5%±4.7Highest CT: 16% |
| Harwinton 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 | #102 of 149 in CT | #34 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Preston School District | Lisbon School District | Regional School District 10 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.