Compare towns
Winchester vs Dedham vs Plainfield vs Barkhamsted
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 most renters (34.2% rent).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Barkhamsted has the most homeowners (92.9%).
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 | Plainfield | Barkhamsted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,284 |
25,237Highest |
15,141 |
3,678Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 49.1±6.2 26% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
50.2±3.3Highest 29% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Dedham 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% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.2%±7.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,519±$12kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8k 5% below U.S. |
$123,544±$9k 53% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Barkhamsted are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $249,500±$17kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
$368,000±$15k 11% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$116 17% below U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,164±$114Lowest 18% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,780 53% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$6,354 104% 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% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
28.8%±35.4Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.3%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barkhamsted and Dedham 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT | #63 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Explorations District · Regional School District 07 | Dedham | Plainfield School District | Barkhamsted School District |
| High school in town | Northwestern Regional High School | Dedham High | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
10.4Highest |
10.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.