Compare towns
Windsor Locks vs Preston vs Windsor Locks vs Thomaston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Preston has the most expensive homes ($362k median).
Thomaston has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
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 Locks | Preston | Windsor Locks | Thomaston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,579Highest |
4,821Lowest |
12,579Highest |
7,492 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% CT: +0.9% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 41.4±2.6Lowest about the CT average |
46.2±7Highest 12% above CT |
41.4±2.6Lowest about the CT average |
41.5±7.7 about the CT average |
| Preston and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.5%±5.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Thomaston and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 18.5% |
| Preston and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.6% CT: 42.5% |
28.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
28.6% CT: 42.5% |
34%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,205±$13kLowest 15% below CT |
$116,648±$27kHighest 22% above CT |
$81,205±$13kLowest 15% below CT |
$103,218±$15k 8% above CT |
| Preston and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $258,800±$14kLowest 29% below CT |
$361,900±$13kHighest about the CT average |
$258,800±$14kLowest 29% below CT |
$282,600±$23k 23% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,394±$187 6% below CT |
$1,433±$1kHighest 4% below CT |
$1,394±$187 6% below CT |
$1,037±$147Lowest 30% 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 | $3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$4,749 29% below CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$5,915Highest 11% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
57.9%±22 CT: 52.6% |
| Below poverty line | 10.9%Highest CT: 10% |
2.4% CT: 10% |
10.9%Highest CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
77.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
77.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1970Highest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below CT |
22 min 17% below CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 17.7%±3.7Highest CT: 16% |
10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7Highest CT: 16% |
7.6%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #109 of 149 in CT | #93 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #106 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Preston School District | Windsor Locks School District | Thomaston School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Windsor Locks High School | Thomaston High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.9Lowest |
10.7Highest |
| 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.