Compare towns
Windsor vs Preston vs Windsor Locks vs North Haven
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windsor has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Preston has the most homeowners (91.7%).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
North Haven has the highest household income ($133k).
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 | Windsor | Preston | Windsor Locks | North Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 29,468Highest |
4,821Lowest |
12,579 |
24,336 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +0.9% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 43.7±1.9 6% above CT |
46.2±7Highest 12% above CT |
41.4±2.6Lowest about the CT average |
45.7±1.3 11% above CT |
| Preston and North Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±2.1 CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
21.5%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
| North Haven and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20%±2 CT: 18.5% |
23%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
22.3%±2.1 CT: 18.5% |
| Preston and North Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.2% CT: 42.5% |
28.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
28.6% CT: 42.5% |
46.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $104,725±$8k 9% above CT |
$116,648±$27k 22% above CT |
$81,205±$13kLowest 15% below CT |
$132,689±$7kHighest 39% above CT |
| North Haven and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $305,200±$11k 17% below CT |
$361,900±$13k about the CT average |
$258,800±$14kLowest 29% below CT |
$393,200±$15kHighest 7% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,681±$62 13% above CT |
$1,433±$1k 4% below CT |
$1,394±$187Lowest 6% below CT |
$1,720±$127Highest 16% above CT |
| North Haven and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,351 19% below CT |
$4,749 29% below CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$6,964Highest 5% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±10.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5 CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
45.2%±10 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 | 6.7% CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.9%Highest CT: 10% |
4.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4% CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
77.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
81.3% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1970Highest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 19% below CT |
22 minHighest 17% below CT |
22 min 17% below CT |
22 min 18% below CT |
| Work from home | 16.1%±3.2 CT: 16% |
10.3%±6Lowest CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7Highest CT: 16% |
14.9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
| Windsor Locks and Windsor 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 | #117 of 149 in CT | #93 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #84 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Capitol Region Education Council · Windsor School District | Preston School District | — | Area Cooperative Educational Services · North Haven School District |
| High school in town | Windsor High School | None in town | — | North Haven High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.2Lowest |
— | — | 11.0Highest |
| 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.