Compare towns
Winchester vs Sutton vs Derby 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 oldest population (median age 49.1).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k median).
Putnam has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Derby | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,284 |
9,452 |
12,487Highest |
9,292Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 49.1±6.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
46.4±3.1 19% above U.S. |
43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest 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% |
21.1%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.6% 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% |
5.9%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$12kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$79,500±$11k about the U.S. average |
$70,561±$7k 13% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $249,500±$17kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$256,700±$21k 23% below U.S. |
$269,200±$11k 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$116 17% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,452±$95Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Derby and Sutton 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. |
$5,510 77% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.9%±15.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.9%±12.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
61.9% 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. |
1967 13 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. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
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% |
15.1%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Derby 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 | #138 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Explorations District · Regional School District 07 | Sutton | Derby School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Northwestern Regional High School | Sutton High School | Derby High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7 |
12.6Highest |
9.7 |
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.