Compare towns
Winchester vs Dedham vs Plainville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Winchester has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
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 | Dedham | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,284Lowest |
25,237Highest |
17,551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 49.1±6.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
44.3±1.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Winchester and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Dedham and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.4%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Winchester and Dedham 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainville and Dedham 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 18% below U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$84,343±$7k 4% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $249,500±$17kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$254,000±$14k 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$116 17% below U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,780Lowest 53% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$4,798 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.9%±15.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #97 of 149 in CT | #119 of 282 in MA | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Explorations District · Regional School District 07 | — | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Northwestern Regional High School | — | 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 |
U.S. 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.