Compare towns
Preston vs Sutton vs Windsor Locks vs Voluntown
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 most homeowners (91.7%).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k median).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Voluntown has the oldest population (median age 48.3).
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 | Sutton | Windsor Locks | Voluntown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,821 |
9,452 |
12,579Highest |
2,604Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 46.2±7 19% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
48.3±1.7Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Voluntown 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sutton and Preston 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%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Preston and Sutton 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% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks 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. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$101,964±$25k 26% above U.S. |
| Sutton 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±$13k 9% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$356,100±$16k 7% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,433±$1kHighest about the U.S. average |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,166±$191Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Preston and Windsor Locks 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. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,955 59% 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% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±24.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks 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% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 16% below U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.3%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.9%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Windsor Locks 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #109 of 149 in CT | #53 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Preston School District | Sutton | Windsor Locks School District | Voluntown School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Sutton High School | Windsor Locks High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Highest |
8.9Lowest |
— |
| 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.