Compare towns
Winchester vs Putnam 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 most homeowners (65.8%).
Putnam has the most kids (18.9% under 18).
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 | Putnam | Derby |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,284 |
7,120Lowest |
12,487Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.1%Highest CT: +0.9% |
-4.5%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 49.1±6.2Highest 19% above CT |
41.2±5.1Lowest about the CT average |
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% |
18.9%±4.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Putnam and Winchester 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% |
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% |
18.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
35.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Derby 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 |
$79,500±$11kHighest 17% below CT |
| Derby and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $249,500±$17k 32% below CT |
$245,100±$13kLowest 33% below CT |
$256,700±$21kHighest 30% below CT |
| Derby and Winchester 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 |
$1,147±$43Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,452±$95Highest about the CT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,780 28% below CT |
$3,564Lowest 46% below CT |
$5,510Highest 17% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.9%±15.8 CT: 52.6% |
38.2%±12.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.9%±12.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Derby 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% |
11.7% CT: 10% |
10.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.8%Highest CT: 66.5% |
50.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
61.9% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 12 yrs older than CT |
1956 11 yrs older than CT |
1967Highest same as CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the CT average |
25 minLowest 5% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 6.9%±2.7 CT: 16% |
6.7%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
15.1%±4.8Highest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #97 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #138 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Explorations District · Regional School District 07 | — | Derby School District |
| High school in town | Northwestern Regional High School | — | Derby High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7 |
— | 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.