Compare towns
Winchester vs Orange vs Putnam vs Winsted
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).
Orange has the highest household income ($142k).
Putnam has the youngest population (median age 43.7).
Winsted has the most affordable homes ($219k median).
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 | Orange | Putnam | Winsted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,284 |
14,315Highest |
9,292 |
6,977Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | -6.7% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 49.1±6.2Highest 19% above CT |
45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
47.6±7.3 16% above CT |
| 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 CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
14.4%±3.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Orange and Putnam 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% |
23%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
25%±4.2 CT: 18.5% |
| 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% CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
26.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Orange 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 31% below CT |
$142,325±$10kHighest 49% above CT |
$70,561±$7k 26% below CT |
$64,871±$12kLowest 32% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $249,500±$17k 32% below CT |
$491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
$269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
$218,900±$14kLowest 40% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$116 21% below CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,183±$130 20% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,780 28% below CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$3,860 42% below CT |
$3,754Lowest 43% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.9%±15.8 CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
45.5%±16.7 CT: 52.6% |
| Orange and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.8% CT: 10% |
3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5% CT: 10% |
15.9%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.8% CT: 66.5% |
89.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8% CT: 66.5% |
54.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955 12 yrs older than CT |
1964Highest 3 yrs older than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1942Lowest 25 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the CT average |
28 minHighest 4% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
25 min 5% below CT |
| Work from home | 6.9%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
7.7%±3.5 CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #97 of 149 in CT | #38 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Explorations District · Regional School District 07 | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Putnam School District | — |
| High school in town | Northwestern Regional High School | None in town | 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 | 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.