Compare towns
Washington vs Windsor Locks vs Bethlehem vs New Preston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k median).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Bethlehem has the most renters (29.8% rent).
New Preston has the most people working from home (32.3%).
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 | Washington | Windsor Locks | Bethlehem | New Preston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,676 |
12,579Highest |
3,423 |
1,146Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | -4.7% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 49.9±5.5 21% above CT |
41.4±2.6Lowest about the CT average |
51.5±8.5 25% above CT |
51.8±12.8Highest 26% above CT |
| New Preston and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±4.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4 CT: 20.2% |
16.3%±4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±7 CT: 20.2% |
| Washington and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±5.3 CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±5.3 CT: 18.5% |
31.3%±5.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
| New Preston and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.7% CT: 42.5% |
28.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
39.2% CT: 42.5% |
57.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.4%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±4.7 CT: 7.1% |
| Washington and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,549±$16k 6% above CT |
$81,205±$13k 15% below CT |
$108,929±$16kHighest 14% above CT |
$76,406±$28kLowest 20% below CT |
| Bethlehem and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $660,200±$130kHighest 80% above CT |
$258,800±$14kLowest 29% below CT |
$410,900±$36k 12% above CT |
$452,600±$43k 23% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$264 19% below CT |
$1,394±$187Highest 6% below CT |
$1,127±$124Lowest 24% below CT |
— |
| Windsor Locks and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,709 29% below CT |
$3,688 44% below CT |
$5,932Highest 11% below CT |
$3,528Lowest 47% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.1%±24 CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8 CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
7.4%±89.8Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.9% CT: 10% |
10.4% CT: 10% |
15.8%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% CT: 66.5% |
77.1% CT: 66.5% |
70.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
85.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 4% below CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
29 minHighest 9% above CT |
29 min 8% above CT |
| Work from home | 20.1%±9 CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
13.9%±5Lowest CT: 16% |
32.3%±28Highest CT: 16% |
| New Preston and Washington 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 | #17 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #82 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Regional School District 12 | Windsor Locks School District | Regional School District 14 | — |
| High school in town | Shepaug Valley School | Windsor Locks High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.1Highest |
8.9Lowest |
— | — |
| 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.