Compare towns
Winchester vs Thompson vs Derby vs Colebrook
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).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Derby has the most people working from home (15.1%).
Colebrook has the highest household income ($111k).
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 | Thompson | Derby | Colebrook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,284 |
9,337 |
12,487Highest |
1,494Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -4.5% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 49.1±6.2 19% above CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
46.4±3.1Lowest 13% above CT |
52.1±5 27% above CT |
| Thompson and Colebrook 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% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
14.6%±2.9 CT: 20.2% |
17.9%±3.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Colebrook 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% |
24.4%±4.3 CT: 18.5% |
21.1%±3.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26%±4.2 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% |
21.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
35.6% CT: 42.5% |
36.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Derby and Colebrook 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 |
$93,629±$18k about the CT average |
$79,500±$11k 17% below CT |
$111,250±$17kHighest 16% above CT |
| Colebrook and Thompson 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 |
$291,900±$24k 20% below CT |
$256,700±$21k 30% below CT |
$342,800±$19kHighest 7% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$116 21% below CT |
$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
$1,452±$95Highest about the CT average |
$1,333±$626 10% below CT |
| Derby 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 |
$3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
$5,510 17% below CT |
$6,211Highest 7% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.9%±15.8 CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
53.9%±12.6 CT: 52.6% |
42.1%±55Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Thompson and Derby 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% |
5.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.8% CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.8% CT: 66.5% |
84.3% CT: 66.5% |
61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
91.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 12 yrs older than CT |
1963 4 yrs older than CT |
1967Highest same as CT |
1960 7 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the CT average |
32 min 20% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
34 minHighest 29% above CT |
| Work from home | 6.9%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
15.1%±4.8Highest CT: 16% |
7%±3.8 CT: 16% |
| Derby and Thompson 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #138 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Explorations District · Regional School District 07 | Thompson School District | Derby School District | Colebrook School District |
| High school in town | Northwestern Regional High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Derby High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Highest |
7.9Lowest |
9.7Highest |
— |
| 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.