Compare towns
Preston vs Putnam vs Killingly 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).
Putnam has the most renters (49.3% rent).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
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 | Putnam | Killingly | Harwinton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,821Lowest |
7,120 |
17,867Highest |
5,575 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.1% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 46.2±7Highest 12% above CT |
41.2±5.1 about the CT average |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below 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% |
18.9%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
20%±4.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Harwinton and Killingly 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% |
17%±3.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 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% |
18.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
40.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
6.7%±2.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Harwinton and Killingly 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 |
$65,511±$7kLowest 32% below CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% 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 |
$245,100±$13kLowest 33% below CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% 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±$1k 4% below CT |
$1,147±$43 23% below CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% 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 |
$3,564Lowest 46% below CT |
$3,922 41% below CT |
$5,503Highest 17% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±12.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
38.2%±12.1 CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
27.8%±27.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Preston and Killingly 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% |
11.7%Highest CT: 10% |
11.4% CT: 10% |
4.8% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7% CT: 66.5% |
50.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
93%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below CT |
25 min 5% below CT |
28 minHighest 5% above CT |
26 min 3% below CT |
| Work from home | 10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
6.7%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
13.5%±4.7Highest CT: 16% |
| Harwinton and Killingly 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #34 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Preston School District | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Regional School District 10 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Killingly High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
— |
| 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.