Compare towns
Winchester vs Ledyard vs Torrington vs Derby
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 oldest population (median age 49.1).
Ledyard has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Torrington has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
Derby has the most people working from home (15.1%).
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 | Ledyard | Torrington | Derby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,284Lowest |
15,433 |
35,547Highest |
12,487 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -2.4%Highest CT: +0.9% |
-4.5%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 49.1±6.2Highest 19% above CT |
37.1±1.4Lowest 10% below CT |
42.9±1.8 4% above CT |
46.4±3.1 13% above CT |
| Winchester and Derby 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% |
27.5%±3.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
17.9%±1.6 CT: 20.2% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 27.4%±5.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.2%±1.5 CT: 18.5% |
21.1%±3.9 CT: 18.5% |
| Winchester and Derby 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% |
40.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
24.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
35.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
4.7%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Derby and Ledyard 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 |
$107,975±$10kHighest 13% above CT |
$70,856±$5k 26% below CT |
$79,500±$11k 17% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $249,500±$17k 32% below CT |
$326,200±$27kHighest 11% below CT |
$215,500±$8kLowest 41% below CT |
$256,700±$21k 30% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$116 21% below CT |
$1,629±$247Highest 9% above CT |
$1,169±$43Lowest 21% below CT |
$1,452±$95 about the CT average |
| Ledyard and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,780Lowest 28% below CT |
$6,371Highest 4% below CT |
$5,042 24% below CT |
$5,510 17% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.9%±15.8 CT: 52.6% |
54%±27Highest CT: 52.6% |
48%±6.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.9%±12.6 CT: 52.6% |
| Ledyard and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.8% CT: 10% |
5.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
13.7%Highest CT: 10% |
10.8% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.8% CT: 66.5% |
82.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
66.1% CT: 66.5% |
61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 12 yrs older than CT |
1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
1960 7 yrs older than CT |
1967 same as CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the CT average |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 6.9%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
9.2%±2.8 CT: 16% |
9%±1.6 CT: 16% |
15.1%±4.8Highest CT: 16% |
| Derby and Ledyard 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 | #99 of 149 in CT | #132 of 149 in CT | #138 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Explorations District · Regional School District 07 | Ledyard School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Torrington School District | Derby School District |
| High school in town | Northwestern Regional High School | Ledyard High School | Torrington High School | Derby High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
11.5 |
11.9Highest |
9.7Lowest |
| 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.