Compare towns
Preston vs Putnam vs Winsted
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 highest household income ($117k).
Putnam has the youngest population (median age 43.7).
Winsted has the most affordable homes ($219k median).
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 | Winsted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,821Lowest |
9,292Highest |
6,977 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -6.7% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 46.2±7 12% above CT |
43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
47.6±7.3Highest 16% above CT |
| Winsted 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% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
14.4%±3.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Preston and Putnam 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% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
25%±4.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Winsted 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%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
26.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $116,648±$27kHighest 22% above CT |
$70,561±$7k 26% below CT |
$64,871±$12kLowest 32% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,900±$13kHighest about the CT average |
$269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
$218,900±$14kLowest 40% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,433±$1kHighest 4% below CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,183±$130 20% below CT |
| Preston and Winsted are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,749Highest 29% below CT |
$3,860 42% below CT |
$3,754Lowest 43% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±12.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
45.5%±16.7 CT: 52.6% |
| Preston and Winsted 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% CT: 10% |
15.9%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8% CT: 66.5% |
54.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1942Lowest 25 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
25 minHighest 5% below CT |
| Work from home | 10.3%±6Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
7.7%±3.5Lowest CT: 16% |
| Preston and Putnam 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 | — |
| School district | Preston School District | Putnam School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Putnam High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5 |
— |
| 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.