Compare towns
Winchester vs Dedham vs Windsor Locks vs Winsted
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).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Winsted has the most renters (45.3% 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 | Dedham | Windsor Locks | Winsted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,284 |
25,237Highest |
12,579 |
6,977Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -6.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.1±6.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
47.6±7.3 22% above U.S. |
| Winchester and Winsted are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 27.4%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Winchester and Winsted 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% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks 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±$12k 18% below U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
$64,871±$12kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $249,500±$17k 25% below U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14k 22% below U.S. |
$218,900±$14kLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$116Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,183±$130 16% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,780 53% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$3,754 20% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.9%±15.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.5%±16.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
54.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Highest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.7%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dedham and Windsor Locks 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 | #109 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Explorations District · Regional School District 07 | Dedham | Windsor Locks School District | — |
| High school in town | Northwestern Regional High School | Dedham High | Windsor Locks High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7 |
10.4Highest |
8.9Lowest |
— |
| 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.