Compare towns
Preston vs Washington vs Windsor Locks vs Lisbon
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 highest household income ($117k).
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k median).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
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.
| Measure | Preston | Washington | Windsor Locks | Lisbon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,821 |
3,676Lowest |
12,579Highest |
4,211 |
| Median age | 46.2±7 12% above CT |
49.9±5.5Highest 21% above CT |
41.4±2.6Lowest about the CT average |
44.5±5.2 8% above CT |
| Washington 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% |
19%±4.7 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.1%±6.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Lisbon and Washington 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% |
26.9%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
21.3%±4.3 CT: 18.5% |
| Washington 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% |
53.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
28.6% CT: 42.5% |
19.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
6.4%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±2.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Washington and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $116,648±$27kHighest 22% above CT |
$101,549±$16k 6% above CT |
$81,205±$13kLowest 15% below CT |
$92,708±$12k 3% below CT |
| Preston and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,900±$13k about the CT average |
$660,200±$130kHighest 80% above CT |
$258,800±$14kLowest 29% below CT |
$315,700±$26k 14% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,433±$1kHighest 4% below CT |
$1,204±$264Lowest 19% below CT |
$1,394±$187 6% below CT |
— |
| Preston and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,749Highest 29% below CT |
$4,709 29% below CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$4,044 39% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±12.5 CT: 52.6% |
26.1%±24Lowest CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8 CT: 52.6% |
100%±75.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Lisbon and Windsor Locks 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% |
9% CT: 10% |
10.9%Highest CT: 10% |
6.6% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7% CT: 66.5% |
79% CT: 66.5% |
77.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
97.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below CT |
26 min 4% below CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
20.1%±9Highest CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
8.3%±3.4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Washington 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 | #17 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #102 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Preston School District | Regional School District 12 | Windsor Locks School District | Lisbon School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Shepaug Valley School | Windsor Locks High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.1Highest |
8.9Lowest |
— |
| 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.