Compare towns

Preston vs Webster vs Windsor Locks

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 highest household income ($117k).
Webster has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).

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.

MeasurePrestonWebsterWindsor Locks
People
Population
4,821Lowest
17,748Highest
12,579
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+6%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
46.2±7Highest
19% above U.S.
39.9±2.9Lowest
about the U.S. average
41.4±2.6
6% above U.S.
Preston and Windsor Locks 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%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Webster 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%
19.6%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
18.2%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Preston and Webster 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%
25.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
28.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.9%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.8%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
5.9%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Windsor Locks and Webster 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
44% above U.S.
$72,895±$6kLowest
10% below U.S.
$81,205±$13k
about the U.S. average
Preston and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$361,900±$13kHighest
9% above U.S.
$361,500±$12k
9% above U.S.
$258,800±$14kLowest
22% below U.S.
Preston and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,433±$1kHighest
about the U.S. average
$1,228±$81Lowest
13% below U.S.
$1,394±$187
about the U.S. average
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
52% above U.S.
$3,999
28% above U.S.
$3,688Lowest
18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.6%±12.5
U.S.: 51.1%
45.7%±6.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
58.2%±16.8Highest
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%
12.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
59.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
77.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1970Highest
10 yrs older than U.S.
1962
18 yrs older than U.S.
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 min
16% below U.S.
31 minHighest
16% above U.S.
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
Work from home
10.3%±6
U.S.: 15.1%
8%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.7%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Windsor Locks and Preston 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 #271 of 282 in MA #109 of 149 in CT
School district Preston School District Webster Windsor Locks School District
High school in town None in town Bartlett High School Windsor Locks High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.6Highest
8.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.