Compare towns
Putnam vs Wethersfield vs Winchester vs Derby
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Wethersfield has the highest household income ($127k).
Winchester has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
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 | Putnam | Wethersfield | Winchester | Derby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,292Lowest |
27,250Highest |
10,284 |
12,487 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | -4.5% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 43.7±3 6% above CT |
43.4±1.5Lowest 6% above CT |
49.1±6.2Highest 19% above CT |
46.4±3.1 13% above CT |
| Winchester and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
21.1%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.4%±2.9 CT: 20.2% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Wethersfield and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.4%±2 CT: 18.5% |
27.4%±5.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
21.1%±3.9 CT: 18.5% |
| Winchester and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
54.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
27.8% CT: 42.5% |
35.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.3%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Derby and Wethersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,561±$7k 26% below CT |
$126,806±$12kHighest 32% above CT |
$66,519±$12kLowest 31% below CT |
$79,500±$11k 17% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
$324,600±$11kHighest 12% below CT |
$249,500±$17kLowest 32% below CT |
$256,700±$21k 30% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,370±$150 8% below CT |
$1,174±$116 21% below CT |
$1,452±$95Highest about the CT average |
| Derby and Wethersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$7,296Highest 10% above CT |
$4,780 28% below CT |
$5,510 17% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
48.6%±11.9 CT: 52.6% |
48.9%±15.8 CT: 52.6% |
53.9%±12.6Highest 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 | 11.5% CT: 10% |
6.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
12.8%Highest CT: 10% |
10.8% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
80.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
65.8% CT: 66.5% |
61.9% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1960 7 yrs older than CT |
1955Lowest 12 yrs older than CT |
1967Highest same as CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
26 min about the CT average |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
18%±2.6Highest CT: 16% |
6.9%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
15.1%±4.8 CT: 16% |
| Wethersfield 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #92 of 149 in CT | #97 of 149 in CT | #138 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Capitol Region Education Council · Wethersfield School District | Explorations District · Regional School District 07 | Derby School District |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | Wethersfield High School | Northwestern Regional High School | Derby High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
13.8Highest |
9.7 |
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.