Compare towns
Winchester vs Putnam vs Colebrook
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 housing (typical home built 1955).
Putnam has the most renters (49.3% rent).
Colebrook has the highest household income ($111k).
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 | Putnam | Colebrook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,284Highest |
7,120 |
1,494Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.1% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 49.1±6.2 19% above CT |
41.2±5.1Lowest about the CT average |
52.1±5Highest 27% above CT |
| Colebrook 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% |
18.9%±4.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
17.9%±3.9 CT: 20.2% |
| Putnam and Colebrook 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% |
17%±3.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26%±4.2 CT: 18.5% |
| Winchester and Colebrook 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% |
18.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
36.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Colebrook and Winchester 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 |
$65,511±$7kLowest 32% below CT |
$111,250±$17kHighest 16% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $249,500±$17k 32% below CT |
$245,100±$13kLowest 33% below CT |
$342,800±$19kHighest 7% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$116 21% below CT |
$1,147±$43Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,333±$626Highest 10% below CT |
| Colebrook 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 |
$3,564Lowest 46% below CT |
$6,211Highest 7% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.9%±15.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
38.2%±12.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
42.1%±55 CT: 52.6% |
| Winchester and Colebrook 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% |
11.7% CT: 10% |
8.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.8% CT: 66.5% |
50.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
91.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 12 yrs older than CT |
1956 11 yrs older than CT |
1960Highest 7 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the CT average |
25 minLowest 5% below CT |
34 minHighest 29% above CT |
| Work from home | 6.9%±2.7 CT: 16% |
6.7%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
7%±3.8Highest CT: 16% |
| Colebrook and Winchester 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Explorations District · Regional School District 07 | — | Colebrook School District |
| High school in town | Northwestern Regional High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.