Compare towns
Preston vs Windsor Locks vs Windsor Locks vs Canterbury
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).
Canterbury has the oldest population (median age 48.4).
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 Locks | Windsor Locks | Canterbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,821Lowest |
12,579Highest |
12,579Highest |
5,124 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +0.9% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 46.2±7 12% above CT |
41.4±2.6Lowest about the CT average |
41.4±2.6Lowest about the CT average |
48.4±4.5Highest 18% above CT |
| Canterbury and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4 CT: 20.2% |
15%±3.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Preston and Windsor Locks 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% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
25.5%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Canterbury 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% |
28.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
28.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
26.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $116,648±$27kHighest 22% above CT |
$81,205±$13kLowest 15% below CT |
$81,205±$13kLowest 15% below CT |
$103,198±$6k 8% above CT |
| Preston and Canterbury 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 |
$258,800±$14kLowest 29% below CT |
$258,800±$14kLowest 29% below CT |
$334,200±$12k 9% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,433±$1kHighest 4% below CT |
$1,394±$187 6% below CT |
$1,394±$187 6% below CT |
$924±$367Lowest 38% 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 |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$4,140 38% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±12.5 CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
40%±13Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Below poverty line | 2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.9%Highest CT: 10% |
10.9%Highest CT: 10% |
4.9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
77.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
77.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
88.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1975Highest 8 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 10.3%±6Lowest CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7Highest CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7Highest CT: 16% |
14.7%±5.4 CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #93 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #125 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Preston School District | — | Windsor Locks School District | Canterbury School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Windsor Locks High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.9 |
— |
| 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.