Compare towns
Preston vs Putnam vs Windsor 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 most expensive homes ($362k median).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Windsor has the most people working from home (16.1%).
Harwinton has the highest household income ($130k).
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 | Windsor | Harwinton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,821Lowest |
9,292 |
29,468Highest |
5,575 |
| Median age | 46.2±7Highest 12% above CT |
43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
43.7±1.9Lowest 6% 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%±4.4 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.2%±2.1 CT: 20.2% |
20%±4.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Harwinton and Windsor 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% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20%±2 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% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
43.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
40.3% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.3 CT: 7.1% |
6.7%±2.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Harwinton and Windsor 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 |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$104,725±$8k 9% above 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 |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$305,200±$11k 17% 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 |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,681±$62Highest 13% above CT |
$1,504±$200 about the CT average |
| Windsor and Harwinton 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 |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$5,351 19% below CT |
$5,503Highest 17% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±12.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
27.8%±27.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Preston and Windsor 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% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
6.7% CT: 10% |
4.8% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
82.4% CT: 66.5% |
93%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older 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 |
25 min 6% below CT |
21 minLowest 19% below CT |
26 minHighest 3% below CT |
| Work from home | 10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
16.1%±3.2Highest CT: 16% |
13.5%±4.7 CT: 16% |
| Windsor and Harwinton 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 | #117 of 149 in CT | #34 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Preston School District | Putnam School District | Capitol Region Education Council · Windsor School District | Regional School District 10 |
| High school in town | None in town | Putnam High School | Windsor High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5Lowest |
10.2Highest |
— |
| 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.