Compare towns
Thompson 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
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Preston has the highest household income ($117k).
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 | Thompson | Preston | Windsor Locks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,337 |
4,821Lowest |
12,579Highest |
| Median age | 54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
46.2±7 12% above CT |
41.4±2.6Lowest about the CT average |
| Thompson and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4 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+ | 24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
23%±4.7 CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Thompson and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
28.5% CT: 42.5% |
28.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.3Lowest 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 | $93,629±$18k about the CT average |
$116,648±$27kHighest 22% above CT |
$81,205±$13kLowest 15% below CT |
| Preston and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $291,900±$24k 20% below CT |
$361,900±$13kHighest about the CT average |
$258,800±$14kLowest 29% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
$1,433±$1kHighest 4% below CT |
$1,394±$187 6% 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 | $3,822 42% below CT |
$4,749Highest 29% below CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±18.7 CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.9% CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.9%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
77.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 4 yrs older than CT |
1970Highest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above CT |
22 min 17% below CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
10.3%±6Lowest CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7Highest CT: 16% |
| Windsor Locks and Thompson 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #93 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thompson School District | Preston School District | Windsor Locks School District |
| High school in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | None in town | Windsor Locks High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.9Lowest |
— | 8.9Highest |
| 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.