Compare towns
Winchester vs Bantam vs Colebrook 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 most affordable homes ($250k median).
Bantam has the most people working from home (16%).
Colebrook has the most homeowners (91.6%).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Winchester | Bantam | Colebrook | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,284 |
810Lowest |
1,494 |
17,551Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -5.1% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 49.1±6.2 19% above CT |
47.2±15.7 15% above CT |
52.1±5Highest 27% above CT |
44.3±1.5Lowest 8% above CT |
| Colebrook and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.8%±6.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
17.9%±3.9 CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
| Bantam and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.4%±5.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
25.4%±8.5 CT: 18.5% |
26%±4.2 CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Winchester and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.8% CT: 42.5% |
26.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
36.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
30% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
3.1%±2.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Plainville and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,519±$12kLowest 31% below CT |
— | $111,250±$17kHighest 16% above CT |
$84,343±$7k 12% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $249,500±$17kLowest 32% below CT |
$317,700±$40k 13% below CT |
$342,800±$19kHighest 7% below CT |
$254,000±$14k 31% below CT |
| Colebrook and Bantam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$116 21% below CT |
$688±$106Lowest 54% below CT |
$1,333±$626Highest 10% below CT |
$1,126±$147 24% below CT |
| Colebrook and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,780 28% below CT |
$3,984Lowest 40% below CT |
$6,211Highest 7% below CT |
$4,798 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.9%±15.8 CT: 52.6% |
57.3%±12.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.1%±55 CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Bantam and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.8% CT: 10% |
14.4%Highest CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
6.5%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.8% CT: 66.5% |
49.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
91.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
67.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955 12 yrs older than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1960 7 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the CT average |
27 min about the CT average |
34 minHighest 29% above CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
| Work from home | 6.9%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
16%±7.9Highest CT: 16% |
7%±3.8 CT: 16% |
10.7%±2 CT: 16% |
| Bantam and Plainville 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 | #97 of 149 in CT | — | — | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Explorations District · Regional School District 07 | — | Colebrook School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Northwestern Regional High School | — | None in town | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
— | — | 11.4Highest |
| 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.