Compare towns
Winchester vs Sutton vs Plainville vs Barkhamsted
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 renters (34.2% rent).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k median).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Barkhamsted has the most homeowners (92.9%).
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 | Plainville | Barkhamsted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,284 |
9,452 |
17,551Highest |
3,678Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 49.1±6.2 26% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
44.3±1.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
50.2±3.3Highest 29% 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% |
15.6%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Sutton and Barkhamsted 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%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.2%±7.1 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
30% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.3%Highest 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% |
6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainville and Barkhamsted 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. |
$84,343±$7k 4% above U.S. |
$123,544±$9k 53% above 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. |
$254,000±$14k 24% below U.S. |
$368,000±$15k 11% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$116 17% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401Highest 16% below U.S. |
$1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,164±$114 18% 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 | $4,780Lowest 53% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$4,798 54% above U.S. |
$6,354 104% 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% |
40.3%±12.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
28.8%±35.4Lowest 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% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.3%±7.1 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 | #89 of 149 in CT | #63 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Explorations District · Regional School District 07 | Sutton | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Barkhamsted School District |
| High school in town | Northwestern Regional High School | Sutton High School | Plainville High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
12.6Highest |
11.4 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.