Compare towns
Preston vs Sprague vs Plainfield 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).
Sprague has the most renters (32.8% rent).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
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 | Sprague | Plainfield | Harwinton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,821 |
2,962Lowest |
15,141Highest |
5,575 |
| Median age | 46.2±7 12% above CT |
48.5±10.7Highest 18% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
46.1±4.3 12% above CT |
| Sprague 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% |
17.1%±5.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
20%±4.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Harwinton and Plainfield 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% |
19.9%±3.9 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest 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% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
6.7%±2.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Harwinton and Plainfield 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 |
$92,850±$11k 3% below CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% 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 |
$273,500±$17k 25% below CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% 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 |
$1,247±$144 16% below CT |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% 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 |
$4,668 30% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$5,503Highest 17% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±12.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
26.9%±12.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
27.8%±27.9 CT: 52.6% |
| Preston and Plainfield 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% |
8.1% CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
4.8% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7% CT: 66.5% |
67.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
93%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below CT |
30 minHighest 12% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
26 min 3% below CT |
| Work from home | 10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
5%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
10%±4 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 | #141 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #34 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Preston School District | Sprague School District | Plainfield School District | Regional School District 10 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.3 |
— |
| 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.