Compare towns
Preston vs Windsor vs Plainfield vs Voluntown
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).
Windsor has the most people working from home (16.1%).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Voluntown has the oldest population (median age 48.3).
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 | Windsor | Plainfield | Voluntown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,821 |
29,468Highest |
15,141 |
2,604Lowest |
| Median age | 46.2±7 12% above CT |
43.7±1.9 6% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
48.3±1.7Highest 18% above CT |
| Voluntown 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% |
19.2%±2.1 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Plainfield and Windsor 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% |
20%±2 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17.6%±3 CT: 18.5% |
| Preston and Windsor 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% |
43.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
26.7% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
3.4%±1.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Windsor and Plainfield 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 |
$104,725±$8k 9% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$101,964±$25k 6% above CT |
| Preston and Windsor 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 |
$305,200±$11k 17% below CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$356,100±$16k about the CT average |
| Preston and Voluntown 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 |
$1,681±$62Highest 13% above CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,166±$191Lowest 22% below CT |
| Windsor 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 |
$5,351Highest 19% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$4,955 25% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±12.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
42.9%±24.3 CT: 52.6% |
| Preston and Windsor 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% |
6.7% CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
7.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
82.4% CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
83.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1983Highest 16 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below CT |
21 minLowest 19% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
31 minHighest 18% above CT |
| Work from home | 10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
16.1%±3.2Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
8.9%±5.4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Windsor 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 | #117 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #53 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Preston School District | Capitol Region Education Council · Windsor School District | Plainfield School District | Voluntown School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Windsor High School | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.2Lowest |
10.3Highest |
— |
| 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.