Compare towns
Winchester vs Suffield vs Colebrook vs Putnam
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).
Suffield has the most people working from home (18.4%).
Colebrook has the oldest population (median age 52.1).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% 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 | Suffield | Colebrook | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,284 |
15,702Highest |
1,494Lowest |
9,292 |
| Median age | 49.1±6.2 19% above CT |
44.5±1.7 8% above CT |
52.1±5Highest 27% above CT |
43.7±3Lowest 6% 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% |
16.2%±2 CT: 20.2% |
17.9%±3.9 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Highest 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% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26%±4.2 CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 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% |
40.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
36.6% CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Colebrook and Suffield 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 |
$119,472±$13kHighest 25% above CT |
$111,250±$17k 16% above CT |
$70,561±$7k 26% below CT |
| Suffield and Colebrook 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 |
$407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
$342,800±$19k 7% below CT |
$269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$116 21% below CT |
$1,424±$141Highest 4% below CT |
$1,333±$626 10% below CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
| Suffield and Colebrook 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 |
$6,456Highest about the CT average |
$6,211 7% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.9%±15.8 CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.1%±55 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Suffield 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% |
4.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
11.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.8% CT: 66.5% |
86.7% CT: 66.5% |
91.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 12 yrs older than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1960 7 yrs older than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the CT average |
26 min 3% below CT |
34 minHighest 29% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 6.9%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
7%±3.8 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #97 of 149 in CT | #57 of 149 in CT | — | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Explorations District · Regional School District 07 | Suffield School District | Colebrook School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Northwestern Regional High School | Suffield High School | None in town | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7 |
10.9Highest |
— | 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.