Compare towns
Winchester vs Durham vs Plainfield vs Barkhamsted
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 renters (34.2% rent).
Durham has the highest household income ($159k).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Barkhamsted has the oldest population (median age 50.2).
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 | Plainfield | Barkhamsted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,284 |
7,208 |
15,141Highest |
3,678Lowest |
| Median age | 49.1±6.2 19% above CT |
45.5±2.8 11% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
50.2±3.3Highest 22% above CT |
| 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 CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.9 CT: 20.2% |
| Plainfield and Durham 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% |
17.4%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
27.2%±7.1 CT: 18.5% |
| 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% CT: 42.5% |
47.9% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
54.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.3%±2.7 CT: 7.1% |
| Plainfield and Barkhamsted 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 |
$158,857±$7kHighest 66% above CT |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
$123,544±$9k 29% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $249,500±$17kLowest 32% below CT |
$424,800±$23kHighest 16% above CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$368,000±$15k about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$116 21% below CT |
$1,154±$448Lowest 22% below CT |
$1,204±$70Highest 19% below CT |
$1,164±$114 22% below CT |
| Plainfield 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 |
$7,998Highest 20% above CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$6,354 4% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.9%±15.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±28.4 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
28.8%±35.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Winchester and Durham 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% |
3.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
3.6% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
93.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
92.9% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 12 yrs older than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the CT average |
23 minLowest 13% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
28 minHighest 6% above CT |
| Work from home | 6.9%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
20.5%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
20.3%±7.1 CT: 16% |
| Durham and Barkhamsted 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 | #88 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #63 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Explorations District · Regional School District 07 | Regional School District 13 | Plainfield School District | Barkhamsted School District |
| High school in town | Northwestern Regional High School | Coginchaug Regional High School | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7 |
8.9Lowest |
10.3Highest |
— |
| 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.