Compare towns
Winchester vs Preston 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 affordable homes ($250k median).
Preston has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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.
| Measure | Winchester | Preston | Barkhamsted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,284Highest |
4,821 |
3,678Lowest |
| Median age | 49.1±6.2 19% above CT |
46.2±7Lowest 12% above 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% |
18.7%±4.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.9 CT: 20.2% |
| Preston 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 CT: 18.5% |
23%±4.7Lowest 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%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
28.5% CT: 42.5% |
54.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
5.3%±2.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Barkhamsted and Preston 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 |
$116,648±$27k 22% above CT |
$123,544±$9kHighest 29% above CT |
| Barkhamsted and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $249,500±$17kLowest 32% below CT |
$361,900±$13k about the CT average |
$368,000±$15kHighest about the CT average |
| Barkhamsted and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$116 21% below CT |
$1,433±$1kHighest 4% below CT |
$1,164±$114Lowest 22% below CT |
| Preston 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 |
$4,749Lowest 29% below CT |
$6,354Highest 4% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.9%±15.8 CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
28.8%±35.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Preston 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 CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
3.6% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
91.7% CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 12 yrs older than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the CT average |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
28 minHighest 6% above CT |
| Work from home | 6.9%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
20.3%±7.1Highest CT: 16% |
| Barkhamsted and Preston 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 | #93 of 149 in CT | #63 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Explorations District · Regional School District 07 | Preston School District | Barkhamsted School District |
| High school in town | Northwestern Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.