Compare towns
Winchester vs Bethlehem vs Derby
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).
Bethlehem has the most expensive homes ($411k median).
Derby has the most people working from home (15.1%).
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 | Winchester | Bethlehem | Derby |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,284 |
3,423Lowest |
12,487Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -4.5% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 49.1±6.2 19% above CT |
51.5±8.5Highest 25% above CT |
46.4±3.1Lowest 13% above CT |
| Bethlehem and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±2.9 CT: 20.2% |
16.3%±4Highest CT: 20.2% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Bethlehem and Winchester 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% |
24.5%±5.3 CT: 18.5% |
21.1%±3.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Winchester and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
39.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
35.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Derby and Bethlehem 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 |
$108,929±$16kHighest 14% above CT |
$79,500±$11k 17% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $249,500±$17kLowest 32% below CT |
$410,900±$36kHighest 12% above CT |
$256,700±$21k 30% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$116 21% below CT |
$1,127±$124Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,452±$95Highest about the CT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,780Lowest 28% below CT |
$5,932Highest 11% below CT |
$5,510 17% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.9%±15.8Lowest CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
53.9%±12.6 CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.8%Highest CT: 10% |
10.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.8% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.8% CT: 66.5% |
70.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 12 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1967 same as CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the CT average |
29 minHighest 9% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 6.9%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
15.1%±4.8Highest CT: 16% |
| Derby and Bethlehem 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 | #82 of 149 in CT | #138 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Explorations District · Regional School District 07 | Regional School District 14 | Derby School District |
| High school in town | Northwestern Regional High School | None in town | Derby High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7 |
— | 9.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.