Compare towns
Windsor Locks vs Preston vs Windsor
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Preston has the most expensive homes ($362k median).
Windsor has the most kids (19.2% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,579 |
4,821Lowest |
29,468Highest |
| Median age | 41.4±2.6Lowest about the CT average |
46.2±7Highest 12% above CT |
43.7±1.9 6% above CT |
| Preston and Windsor 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% |
19.2%±2.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Windsor 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% |
20%±2 CT: 18.5% |
| Preston and Windsor 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% |
43.2%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%±1.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,205±$13kLowest 15% below CT |
$116,648±$27kHighest 22% above CT |
$104,725±$8k 9% above CT |
| Preston and Windsor 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 |
$305,200±$11k 17% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,394±$187Lowest 6% below CT |
$1,433±$1k 4% below CT |
$1,681±$62Highest 13% above CT |
| Windsor and Preston 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 |
$5,351Highest 19% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5 CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±10.9Lowest 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 | 10.9%Highest CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
6.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
82.4% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1970Highest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1970Highest 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below CT |
22 minHighest 17% below CT |
21 minLowest 19% below CT |
| Work from home | 17.7%±3.7Highest CT: 16% |
10.3%±6Lowest CT: 16% |
16.1%±3.2 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 | #109 of 149 in CT | #93 of 149 in CT | #117 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Windsor Locks School District | Preston School District | Capitol Region Education Council · Windsor School District |
| High school in town | Windsor Locks High School | None in town | Windsor High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Lowest |
— | 10.2Highest |
| 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.