Compare towns
Winchester vs Colebrook vs Plainfield vs Putnam
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).
Colebrook has the highest household income ($111k).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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 | Colebrook | Plainfield | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,284 |
1,494Lowest |
15,141Highest |
9,292 |
| Median age | 49.1±6.2 19% above CT |
52.1±5Highest 27% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
43.7±3 6% 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% |
17.9%±3.9 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Plainfield and Putnam 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% |
26%±4.2 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 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% |
36.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
20% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Plainfield 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 |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
$70,561±$7k 26% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $249,500±$17kLowest 32% below CT |
$342,800±$19kHighest 7% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$116 21% below CT |
$1,333±$626Highest 10% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
| Colebrook and Plainfield 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 |
$6,211Highest 7% below CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.9%±15.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.1%±55 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Winchester and Colebrook 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% |
8.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
11.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.8% CT: 66.5% |
91.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 12 yrs older than CT |
1960 7 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the CT average |
34 minHighest 29% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 6.9%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
7%±3.8 CT: 16% |
10%±4Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
| Plainfield and Putnam 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 | — | #131 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Explorations District · Regional School District 07 | Colebrook School District | Plainfield School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Northwestern Regional High School | None in town | Plainfield High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7 |
— | 10.3Highest |
9.5Lowest |
| 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.