Compare towns
Prospect vs Preston vs Windsor Locks
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Prospect has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
Preston has the most expensive homes ($362k median).
Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).
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 | Prospect | Preston | Windsor Locks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,458 |
4,821Lowest |
12,579Highest |
| Median age | 46.8±3.9Highest 14% above CT |
46.2±7 12% above CT |
41.4±2.6Lowest about the CT average |
| Prospect and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±4.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Prospect and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
23%±4.7 CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Prospect and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
28.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
28.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $126,394±$18kHighest 32% above CT |
$116,648±$27k 22% above CT |
$81,205±$13kLowest 15% below CT |
| Prospect and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $355,400±$21k 3% below CT |
$361,900±$13kHighest about the CT average |
$258,800±$14kLowest 29% below CT |
| Preston and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$433Highest 21% above CT |
$1,433±$1k 4% below CT |
$1,394±$187Lowest 6% below CT |
| Prospect and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,504Highest about the CT average |
$4,749 29% below CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.3%±31.8Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5 CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest 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 | 3.2% CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.9%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
91.7% CT: 66.5% |
77.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 7 yrs newer than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% above CT |
22 min 17% below CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
| Work from home | 10.1%±3.2Lowest CT: 16% |
10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7Highest CT: 16% |
| Windsor Locks 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 | #50 of 149 in CT | #93 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 16 | Preston School District | Windsor Locks School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Windsor Locks High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.9 |
| 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.