Compare towns
Barkhamsted vs Derby vs Plainfield 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 highest household income ($124k).
Derby has the most renters (38.1% rent).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
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 | Derby | Plainfield | Winchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,678Lowest |
12,487 |
15,141Highest |
10,284 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -4.5% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 50.2±3.3Highest 22% above CT |
46.4±3.1 13% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below 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% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.4%±2.9 CT: 20.2% |
| Plainfield and Barkhamsted 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% |
21.1%±3.9 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest 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%Highest CT: 42.5% |
35.6% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
27.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2.7 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Derby and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $123,544±$9kHighest 29% above CT |
$79,500±$11k 17% below CT |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
$66,519±$12kLowest 31% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $368,000±$15kHighest about the CT average |
$256,700±$21k 30% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$249,500±$17kLowest 32% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,164±$114Lowest 22% below CT |
$1,452±$95Highest about the CT average |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,174±$116 21% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,354Highest 4% below CT |
$5,510 17% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$4,780 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.8%±35.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.9%±12.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
48.9%±15.8 CT: 52.6% |
| Derby and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.8% CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
12.8%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
65.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1967 same as CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1955Lowest 12 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
27 min about the CT average |
26 minLowest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 20.3%±7.1Highest CT: 16% |
15.1%±4.8 CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
6.9%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
| Barkhamsted and Derby 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 | #138 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #97 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Barkhamsted School District | Derby School District | Plainfield School District | Explorations District · Regional School District 07 |
| High school in town | None in town | Derby High School | Plainfield High School | Northwestern Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.7Lowest |
10.3Highest |
9.7Lowest |
| 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.