Compare towns

Preston vs Sutton vs Harwinton vs Lisbon

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Preston has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Harwinton has the oldest housing (typical home built 1961).
Lisbon has the most kids (22.1% under 18).

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.

MeasurePrestonSuttonHarwintonLisbon
People
Population
4,821
9,452Highest
5,575
4,211Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+4.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
— —
Median age
46.2±7Highest
19% above U.S.
44.3±2.5Lowest
14% above U.S.
46.1±4.3
19% above U.S.
44.5±5.2
14% above U.S.
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
U.S.: 22%
19.6%±3.3
U.S.: 22%
20%±4.2
U.S.: 22%
22.1%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
Lisbon and Harwinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.8%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.1%±3.5
U.S.: 17.2%
21.3%±4.3
U.S.: 17.2%
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%
U.S.: 35.7%
52.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
40.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
19.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.9%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.7%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
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
44% above U.S.
$147,125±$25kHighest
82% above U.S.
$129,643±$18k
61% above U.S.
$92,708±$12kLowest
15% above U.S.
Sutton and Harwinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$361,900±$13k
9% above U.S.
$523,100±$47kHighest
57% above U.S.
$352,100±$16k
6% above U.S.
$315,700±$26kLowest
5% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,433±$1k
about the U.S. average
$1,190±$401Lowest
16% below U.S.
$1,504±$200Highest
6% above U.S.
—
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
52% above U.S.
$6,763Highest
117% above U.S.
$5,503
76% above U.S.
$4,044Lowest
30% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.6%±12.5
U.S.: 51.1%
47.5%±24.4
U.S.: 51.1%
27.8%±27.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
100%±75.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Lisbon and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
89.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
93%
U.S.: 65.2%
97.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1970
10 yrs older than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minLowest
16% below U.S.
30 min
12% above U.S.
26 min
3% below U.S.
32 minHighest
20% above U.S.
Work from home
10.3%±6
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.5%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
8.3%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #93 of 149 in CT #105 of 282 in MA #34 of 149 in CT #102 of 149 in CT
School district Preston School District Sutton Regional School District 10 Lisbon School District
High school in town None in town Sutton High School None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.6
— —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.