Compare towns
Winchester vs Sutton vs Barkhamsted vs Putnam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Winchester has the most affordable homes ($250k median).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k median).
Barkhamsted has the most homeowners (92.9%).
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 | Sutton | Barkhamsted | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,284Highest |
9,452 |
3,678Lowest |
9,292 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 49.1±6.2 26% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
50.2±3.3Highest 29% above U.S. |
43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Sutton 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.2%±7.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barkhamsted 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±$12kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$123,544±$9k 53% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7k 13% below U.S. |
| Sutton and Barkhamsted are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $249,500±$17kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$368,000±$15k 11% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11k 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$116 17% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401Highest 16% below U.S. |
$1,164±$114 18% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Sutton and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,780 53% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$6,354 104% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.9%±15.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
28.8%±35.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Winchester and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.3%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Barkhamsted 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #63 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Explorations District · Regional School District 07 | Sutton | Barkhamsted School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Northwestern Regional High School | Sutton High School | None in town | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7 |
12.6Highest |
— | 9.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.