Compare towns
Preston vs Stafford 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).
Stafford has the most affordable homes ($264k median).
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 | Stafford | Harwinton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,821Lowest |
11,511Highest |
5,575 |
| Median age | 46.2±7 12% above CT |
46.7±4.8Highest 14% above CT |
46.1±4.3Lowest 12% above CT |
| Stafford and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
21.5%±3.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
20%±4.2 CT: 20.2% |
| Stafford 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% |
22%±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%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
28.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
3.5%±1.3Lowest 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 |
$93,235±$16kLowest about the CT average |
$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 |
$263,800±$22kLowest 28% 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 |
$1,086±$85Lowest 27% 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 | $4,749Lowest 29% below CT |
$5,131 23% below CT |
$5,503Highest 17% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±12.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
41.5%±12.2 CT: 52.6% |
27.8%±27.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Preston and Stafford 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% |
7.4%Highest CT: 10% |
4.8% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7% CT: 66.5% |
79.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
93%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1970Highest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below CT |
26 minHighest about the CT average |
26 min 3% below CT |
| Work from home | 10.3%±6Lowest CT: 16% |
11%±3.5 CT: 16% |
13.5%±4.7Highest CT: 16% |
| Harwinton and Stafford 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 | #96 of 149 in CT | #34 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Preston School District | Stafford School District | Regional School District 10 |
| High school in town | None in town | Stafford High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— |
| 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.