Compare towns
Preston vs Willimantic 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).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
Harwinton has the most people working from home (13.5%).
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 | Willimantic | Harwinton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,821Lowest |
18,096Highest |
5,575 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 46.2±7Highest 12% above CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
46.1±4.3 12% above CT |
| 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 CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
20%±4.2 CT: 20.2% |
| Willimantic and Harwinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
22.1%±3.5 CT: 18.5% |
| 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% CT: 42.5% |
24.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
6.7%±2.9 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $116,648±$27k 22% above CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$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 |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% 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±$1k 4% below CT |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,504±$200Highest about the CT average |
| 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 29% below CT |
$4,678Lowest 30% below CT |
$5,503Highest 17% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±12.5 CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
27.8%±27.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Willimantic 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% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
4.8% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7% CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
93%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below CT |
23 min 12% below CT |
26 minHighest 3% below CT |
| Work from home | 10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
13.5%±4.7Highest CT: 16% |
| Harwinton 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 | — | #34 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Preston School District | — | Regional School District 10 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.