Compare towns
Winchester vs Westminster 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 affordable homes ($250k median).
Westminster has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Barkhamsted has the most people working from home (20.3%).
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 | Westminster | Barkhamsted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,284Highest |
8,374 |
3,678Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +12.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 49.1±6.2 26% above U.S. |
48.3±4.6Lowest 24% 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% |
21.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Westminster 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% |
26%±5.7Lowest 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% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2.7Highest 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. |
$106,331±$22k 32% above U.S. |
$123,544±$9kHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Barkhamsted and Westminster 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. |
$422,000±$36kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$368,000±$15k 11% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$116 17% below U.S. |
$1,843±$268Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,164±$114Lowest 18% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,780Lowest 53% above U.S. |
$4,973 59% above U.S. |
$6,354Highest 104% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.9%±15.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
60%±27.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
28.8%±35.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Westminster 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% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.3%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barkhamsted and Westminster 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 | #112 of 282 in MA | #63 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Explorations District · Regional School District 07 | Ashburnham-Westminster | Barkhamsted School District |
| High school in town | Northwestern Regional High School | Oakmont Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
13.6Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.