Compare towns
Barkhamsted vs Bethany vs Stepney vs Winchester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barkhamsted has the most people working from home (20.3%).
Bethany has the youngest population (median age 42.5).
Stepney has the most expensive homes ($476k median).
Winchester has the most affordable homes ($250k 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 | Barkhamsted | Bethany | Stepney | Winchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,678Lowest |
5,288 |
3,979 |
10,284Highest |
| Median age | 50.2±3.3Highest 22% above CT |
42.5±2.9Lowest 3% above CT |
47.1±5.6 15% above CT |
49.1±6.2 19% above CT |
| Barkhamsted and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±3.9 CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±5.9 CT: 20.2% |
21.1%±5.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.4%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Stepney and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.2%±7.1 CT: 18.5% |
17.2%±4.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17.7%±4.1 CT: 18.5% |
27.4%±5.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Winchester and Barkhamsted are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.3% CT: 42.5% |
58%Highest CT: 42.5% |
54.2% CT: 42.5% |
27.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2.7 CT: 7.1% |
6.8%±3.7 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±5.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Stepney and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $123,544±$9k 29% above CT |
$166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
$153,966±$16k 61% above CT |
$66,519±$12kLowest 31% below CT |
| Bethany and Stepney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $368,000±$15k about the CT average |
$418,000±$42k 14% above CT |
$475,800±$53kHighest 30% above CT |
$249,500±$17kLowest 32% below CT |
| Stepney and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,164±$114Lowest 22% below CT |
— | $2,750±$1kHighest 85% above CT |
$1,174±$116 21% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,354 4% below CT |
$8,313 25% above CT |
$9,309Highest 40% above CT |
$4,780Lowest 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.8%±35.4 CT: 52.6% |
0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
63.2%±48.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
48.9%±15.8 CT: 52.6% |
| Stepney and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.6% CT: 10% |
2.3% CT: 10% |
0.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
12.8%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% CT: 66.5% |
97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
96.4% CT: 66.5% |
65.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1955Lowest 12 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above CT |
32 min 21% above CT |
37 minHighest 41% above CT |
26 minLowest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 20.3%±7.1Highest CT: 16% |
12%±5.2 CT: 16% |
9.8%±4.3 CT: 16% |
6.9%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
| Barkhamsted and Bethany 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 | #63 of 149 in CT | #30 of 149 in CT | — | #97 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Barkhamsted School District | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | — | Explorations District · Regional School District 07 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | Northwestern Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.7 |
| 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.