Compare towns
Preston vs Windham vs Union
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).
Windham has the most renters (52.6% rent).
Union has the oldest population (median age 49.9).
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 | Windham | Union |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,821 |
23,961Highest |
944Lowest |
| Median age | 46.2±7 12% above CT |
33.7±1.9Lowest 18% below CT |
49.9±4.3Highest 21% 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% |
20.1%±2.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Windham 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% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±2.6Highest 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%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.7%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
24% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $116,648±$27kHighest 22% above CT |
$55,736±$5kLowest 42% below CT |
$88,958±$14k 7% below CT |
| Preston and Union 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 |
$209,800±$9kLowest 43% below CT |
$330,400±$26k 10% below CT |
| Preston and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,433±$1kHighest 4% below CT |
$1,107±$69Lowest 26% below CT |
— |
| Preston and Windham 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 |
$4,633Lowest 30% below CT |
$4,793Highest 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±12.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
90%±64.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Union and Windham 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% |
20.7%Highest CT: 10% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7% CT: 66.5% |
47.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below CT |
24 min 8% below CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 10.3%±6Highest CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
9%±3.7 CT: 16% |
| Preston and Union 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 | #143 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Preston School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Union School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— |
| 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.