Compare towns
Preston vs Union vs Chaplin 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).
Union has the oldest population (median age 49.9).
Chaplin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Harwinton has the highest household income ($130k).
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 | Union | Chaplin | Harwinton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,821 |
944Lowest |
2,070 |
5,575Highest |
| Median age | 46.2±7 12% above CT |
49.9±4.3Highest 21% above CT |
43.7±4.8Lowest 6% above CT |
46.1±4.3 12% above CT |
| Union 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% |
16.9%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20%±4.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Harwinton and Preston 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% |
24.5%±2.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
22.1%±3.5 CT: 18.5% |
| Union 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% CT: 42.5% |
24%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
25.4% CT: 42.5% |
40.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
6.7%±2.9 CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Harwinton 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 |
$88,958±$14kLowest 7% below CT |
$97,846±$14k 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 |
$330,400±$26k 10% below CT |
$255,200±$24kLowest 30% 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±$1kLowest 4% below CT |
— | $1,473±$275 about the CT average |
$1,504±$200Highest about the CT average |
| Harwinton and Chaplin 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 |
$4,793 28% below CT |
$4,524Lowest 32% below CT |
$5,503Highest 17% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±12.5 CT: 52.6% |
90%±64.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7 CT: 52.6% |
27.8%±27.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Union 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 CT: 10% |
5.7%Highest CT: 10% |
5.4% CT: 10% |
4.8% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7% CT: 66.5% |
92.9% CT: 66.5% |
82.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
93%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below CT |
32 min 20% above CT |
32 minHighest 22% above CT |
26 min 3% below CT |
| Work from home | 10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
9%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
18.1%±10Highest CT: 16% |
13.5%±4.7 CT: 16% |
| Chaplin and Harwinton 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 | — | — | #34 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Preston School District | Union School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Regional School District 10 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Parish Hill High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.5 |
— |
| 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.