Compare towns

Winchester vs Chaplin vs Windsor Locks vs Barkhamsted

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 renters (34.2% rent).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Barkhamsted has the most expensive homes ($368k median).

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.

MeasureWinchesterChaplinWindsor LocksBarkhamsted
People
Population
10,284
2,070Lowest
12,579Highest
3,678
Median age
49.1±6.2
19% above CT
43.7±4.8
6% above CT
41.4±2.6Lowest
about the CT average
50.2±3.3Highest
22% above CT
Barkhamsted 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%
15.7%±4.2
CT: 20.2%
18.6%±3.4Highest
CT: 20.2%
16.4%±3.9
CT: 20.2%
Windsor Locks and Barkhamsted 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%
20.9%±4.4
CT: 18.5%
18.2%±2.7Lowest
CT: 18.5%
27.2%±7.1
CT: 18.5%
Winchester and Barkhamsted 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%
25.4%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
28.6%
CT: 42.5%
54.3%Highest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.2%±1.7Lowest
CT: 7.1%
10.1%±6.2Highest
CT: 7.1%
5.9%±1.8
CT: 7.1%
5.3%±2.7
CT: 7.1%
Chaplin and Windsor Locks 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
$97,846±$14k
about the CT average
$81,205±$13k
15% below CT
$123,544±$9kHighest
29% above CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$249,500±$17kLowest
32% below CT
$255,200±$24k
30% below CT
$258,800±$14k
29% below CT
$368,000±$15kHighest
about the CT average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,174±$116
21% below CT
$1,473±$275Highest
about the CT average
$1,394±$187
6% below CT
$1,164±$114Lowest
22% below CT
Chaplin and Windsor Locks 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
$4,524
32% below CT
$3,688Lowest
44% below CT
$6,354Highest
4% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.9%±15.8
CT: 52.6%
33.6%±27.7
CT: 52.6%
58.2%±16.8Highest
CT: 52.6%
28.8%±35.4Lowest
CT: 52.6%
Windsor Locks and Winchester 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%
5.4%
CT: 10%
10.9%
CT: 10%
3.6%Lowest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
65.8%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
82.9%
CT: 66.5%
77.1%
CT: 66.5%
92.9%Highest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1955Lowest
12 yrs older than CT
1979Highest
12 yrs newer than CT
1961
6 yrs older than CT
1978
11 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 min
about the CT average
32 minHighest
22% above CT
22 minLowest
17% below CT
28 min
6% above CT
Work from home
6.9%±2.7Lowest
CT: 16%
18.1%±10
CT: 16%
17.7%±3.7
CT: 16%
20.3%±7.1Highest
CT: 16%
Barkhamsted and Chaplin 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 — #109 of 149 in CT #63 of 149 in CT
School district Explorations District · Regional School District 07 Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 Windsor Locks School District Barkhamsted School District
High school in town Northwestern Regional High School Parish Hill High School Windsor Locks High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
9.7Highest
7.5Lowest
8.9
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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.