Compare towns
Torrington vs Winchester vs Windham vs Plainville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Winchester has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
Windham has the most renters (52.6% rent).
Plainville has the highest household income ($84k).
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 | Winchester | Windham | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 35,547Highest |
10,284Lowest |
23,961 |
17,551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4% CT: +0.9% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 42.9±1.8 4% above CT |
49.1±6.2Highest 19% above CT |
33.7±1.9Lowest 18% below CT |
44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
| Winchester and Plainville 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% |
15.4%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±2.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
| Windham 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% |
27.4%±5.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
| Winchester and Plainville 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% |
27.8% CT: 42.5% |
22.7%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
30%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,856±$5k 26% below CT |
$66,519±$12k 31% below CT |
$55,736±$5kLowest 42% below CT |
$84,343±$7kHighest 12% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $215,500±$8k 41% below CT |
$249,500±$17k 32% below CT |
$209,800±$9kLowest 43% below CT |
$254,000±$14kHighest 31% below CT |
| Plainville and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$43 21% below CT |
$1,174±$116Highest 21% below CT |
$1,107±$69Lowest 26% below CT |
$1,126±$147 24% below CT |
| Winchester and Torrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,042Highest 24% below CT |
$4,780 28% below CT |
$4,633Lowest 30% below CT |
$4,798 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48%±6.3 CT: 52.6% |
48.9%±15.8 CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Windham and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.7% CT: 10% |
12.8% CT: 10% |
20.7%Highest CT: 10% |
6.5%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.1% CT: 66.5% |
65.8% CT: 66.5% |
47.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
67.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 7 yrs older than CT |
1955Lowest 12 yrs older than CT |
1956 11 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below CT |
26 minHighest about the CT average |
24 min 8% below CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
| Work from home | 9%±1.6 CT: 16% |
6.9%±2.7 CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
10.7%±2Highest CT: 16% |
| Plainville and Torrington 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 | #97 of 149 in CT | #143 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Torrington School District | Explorations District · Regional School District 07 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Torrington High School | Northwestern Regional High School | Windham High School | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
9.7Lowest |
9.8 |
11.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.