Compare towns
Preston vs Windsor Locks vs Plainville 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 most expensive homes ($362k median).
Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Plainville has the most renters (32.3% rent).
Harwinton has the highest household income ($130k).
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 | Plainville | Harwinton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,821Lowest |
12,579 |
17,551Highest |
5,575 |
| Median age | 46.2±7Highest 12% above CT |
41.4±2.6Lowest about the CT average |
44.3±1.5 8% above 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%±4.4 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4 CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20%±4.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Harwinton and Preston 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% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8 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%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
28.6% CT: 42.5% |
30% CT: 42.5% |
40.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
6.7%±2.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Harwinton and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $116,648±$27k 22% above CT |
$81,205±$13kLowest 15% below CT |
$84,343±$7k 12% 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 |
$258,800±$14k 29% below CT |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% 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 |
$1,394±$187 6% below CT |
$1,126±$147Lowest 24% 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 |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$4,798 28% below CT |
$5,503Highest 17% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±12.5 CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4 CT: 52.6% |
27.8%±27.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| 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 CT: 10% |
10.9%Highest CT: 10% |
6.5% CT: 10% |
4.8% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7% CT: 66.5% |
77.1% CT: 66.5% |
67.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
93%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below CT |
22 min 17% below CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
26 minHighest 3% below CT |
| Work from home | 10.3%±6Lowest CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7Highest CT: 16% |
10.7%±2 CT: 16% |
13.5%±4.7 CT: 16% |
| Windsor Locks and Harwinton 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 | #109 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT | #34 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Preston School District | Windsor Locks School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Regional School District 10 |
| High school in town | None in town | Windsor Locks High School | Plainville High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.9Lowest |
11.4Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.