Compare towns

Winchester vs Hanson 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 affordable homes ($250k median).
Hanson has the most expensive homes ($534k median).
Barkhamsted has the most people working from home (20.3%).

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.

MeasureWinchesterHansonBarkhamsted
People
Population
10,284
10,660Highest
3,678Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+4.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
49.1±6.2
26% above U.S.
42.8±3Lowest
10% above 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%
21.6%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.4%±3.9
U.S.: 22%
Hanson and Barkhamsted 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%
19.7%±3Lowest
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%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
42.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
54.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.2%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.2
U.S.: 6.4%
5.3%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Barkhamsted and Hanson 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.
$132,200±$10kHighest
64% above U.S.
$123,544±$9k
53% above U.S.
Hanson 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.
$533,900±$36kHighest
60% above U.S.
$368,000±$15k
11% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,174±$116
17% below U.S.
$1,821±$860Highest
29% above U.S.
$1,164±$114Lowest
18% below U.S.
Hanson and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,780Lowest
53% above U.S.
$6,402Highest
105% above U.S.
$6,354
104% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.9%±15.8
U.S.: 51.1%
69%±33.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
28.8%±35.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Hanson 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%
2.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
65.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
89%
U.S.: 65.2%
92.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1955Lowest
25 yrs older than U.S.
1972
8 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
34 minHighest
27% above U.S.
28 min
6% above U.S.
Work from home
6.9%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
7.9%±2.5
U.S.: 15.1%
20.3%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #97 of 149 in CT #149 of 282 in MA #63 of 149 in CT
School district Explorations District · Regional School District 07 Whitman-Hanson Barkhamsted School District
High school in town Northwestern Regional High School Whitman Hanson Regional None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
9.7Lowest
14.7Highest
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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.