Compare towns
Winchester vs Needham 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).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
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 | Needham | Winsted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,284 |
32,459Highest |
6,977Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.1±6.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 27.4%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest 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% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Winsted 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. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$64,871±$12kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $249,500±$17k 25% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$218,900±$14kLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$116Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,183±$130 16% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,780 53% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,754Lowest 20% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.9%±15.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.5%±16.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Winchester 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
54.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Highest 15 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 |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.7%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #97 of 149 in CT | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Explorations District · Regional School District 07 | — | — |
| High school in town | Northwestern Regional High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7 |
— | — |
| 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.