Compare towns
Torrington 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
Torrington has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
Derby has the most people working from home (15.1%).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
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 | Torrington | Derby | Plainfield | Winchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 35,547Highest |
12,487 |
15,141 |
10,284Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4%Highest CT: +0.9% |
-4.5%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 42.9±1.8 4% above CT |
46.4±3.1 13% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
49.1±6.2Highest 19% 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 | 17.9%±1.6 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 Torrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.2%±1.5 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 Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.8% CT: 42.5% |
35.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
27.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.1 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 | $70,856±$5k 26% below CT |
$79,500±$11kHighest 17% below CT |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
$66,519±$12kLowest 31% below CT |
| Derby and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $215,500±$8kLowest 41% below CT |
$256,700±$21k 30% below CT |
$272,100±$16kHighest 26% below CT |
$249,500±$17k 32% below CT |
| Plainfield and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$43Lowest 21% below CT |
$1,452±$95Highest about the CT average |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,174±$116 21% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,042 24% below CT |
$5,510Highest 17% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$4,780 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48%±6.3 CT: 52.6% |
53.9%±12.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest 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 | 13.7%Highest CT: 10% |
10.8% CT: 10% |
8.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
12.8% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.1% CT: 66.5% |
61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
65.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 7 yrs older than CT |
1967 same as CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1955Lowest 12 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
27 min about the CT average |
26 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 9%±1.6 CT: 16% |
15.1%±4.8Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
6.9%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
| Derby and Plainfield 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 | #132 of 149 in CT | #138 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #97 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Torrington School District | Derby School District | Plainfield School District | Explorations District · Regional School District 07 |
| High school in town | Torrington High School | Derby High School | Plainfield High School | Northwestern Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
9.7Lowest |
10.3 |
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.