Compare towns
Winchester vs Durham 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).
Durham has the most people working from home (20%).
Putnam has the most kids (18.6% under 18).
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 | Durham | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,284Highest |
3,347Lowest |
9,292 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +28.6% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 49.1±6.2Highest 19% above CT |
47.9±5.4 17% above CT |
43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
| Winchester and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±2.9 CT: 20.2% |
15%±4.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Putnam and Winchester 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% |
19.1%±4.5 CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Winchester and Durham 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% |
42.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,519±$12kLowest 31% below CT |
$152,396±$32kHighest 59% above CT |
$70,561±$7k 26% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $249,500±$17kLowest 32% below CT |
$401,700±$32kHighest 9% above CT |
$269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$116 21% below CT |
$1,625±$1kHighest 9% above CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
| Durham and Winchester 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 |
$7,107Highest 7% above CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.9%±15.8 CT: 52.6% |
57.7%±35Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Durham 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% |
6.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.8% CT: 66.5% |
90%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 12 yrs older than CT |
1975Highest 8 yrs newer than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest about the CT average |
24 minLowest 10% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 6.9%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
20%±6.7Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #97 of 149 in CT | #88 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Explorations District · Regional School District 07 | — | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Northwestern Regional High School | — | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Highest |
— | 9.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.