Compare towns
Winchester vs Killingly vs Preston vs Torrington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Winchester has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Preston has the highest household income ($117k).
Torrington has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
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 | Winchester | Killingly | Preston | Torrington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,284 |
17,867 |
4,821Lowest |
35,547Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | -2.4% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 49.1±6.2Highest 19% above CT |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
46.2±7 12% above CT |
42.9±1.8 4% above CT |
| Winchester and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4 CT: 20.2% |
17.9%±1.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Killingly and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.4%±5.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
23%±4.7 CT: 18.5% |
19.2%±1.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Winchester and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.8% CT: 42.5% |
22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
28.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
24.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
4.7%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
| Killingly and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,519±$12kLowest 31% below CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$116,648±$27kHighest 22% above CT |
$70,856±$5k 26% below CT |
| Preston and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $249,500±$17k 32% below CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$361,900±$13kHighest about the CT average |
$215,500±$8kLowest 41% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$116 21% below CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,433±$1kHighest 4% below CT |
$1,169±$43 21% below CT |
| Preston and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,780 28% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$4,749 29% below CT |
$5,042Highest 24% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.9%±15.8 CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
48%±6.3 CT: 52.6% |
| Preston and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.8% CT: 10% |
11.4% CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
13.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
66.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 12 yrs older than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1970Highest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1960 7 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the CT average |
28 minHighest 5% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 6.9%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3Highest CT: 16% |
10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
9%±1.6 CT: 16% |
| Killingly 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 | #97 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #93 of 149 in CT | #132 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Explorations District · Regional School District 07 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Preston School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Torrington School District |
| High school in town | Northwestern Regional High School | Killingly High School | None in town | Torrington High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
11.1 |
— | 11.9Highest |
| 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.