Compare towns
Winchester vs Windham vs Chaplin vs Plainville
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 oldest population (median age 49.1).
Windham has the most kids (20.1% under 18).
Chaplin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 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 | Windham | Chaplin | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,284 |
23,961Highest |
2,070Lowest |
17,551 |
| Median age | 49.1±6.2Highest 19% above CT |
33.7±1.9Lowest 18% below CT |
43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
| Winchester and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±2.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2 CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
| Windham and Chaplin 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% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
| Winchester and Chaplin 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% |
22.7%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
25.4% CT: 42.5% |
30%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2 CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
| Windham and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,519±$12k 31% below CT |
$55,736±$5kLowest 42% below CT |
$97,846±$14kHighest about the CT average |
$84,343±$7k 12% below CT |
| Chaplin and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $249,500±$17k 32% below CT |
$209,800±$9kLowest 43% below CT |
$255,200±$24kHighest 30% below CT |
$254,000±$14k 31% below CT |
| Chaplin and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$116 21% below CT |
$1,107±$69Lowest 26% below CT |
$1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
$1,126±$147 24% below CT |
| Chaplin and Winchester 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 |
$4,633 30% below CT |
$4,524Lowest 32% below CT |
$4,798Highest 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.9%±15.8 CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4 CT: 52.6% |
| Windham and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.8% CT: 10% |
20.7%Highest CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
6.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.8% CT: 66.5% |
47.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
82.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
67.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 12 yrs older than CT |
1956 11 yrs older than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the CT average |
24 min 8% below CT |
32 minHighest 22% above CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
| Work from home | 6.9%±2.7 CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
18.1%±10Highest CT: 16% |
10.7%±2 CT: 16% |
| Chaplin and Plainville 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 | #143 of 149 in CT | — | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Explorations District · Regional School District 07 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Northwestern Regional High School | Windham High School | Parish Hill High School | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7 |
9.8 |
7.5Lowest |
11.4Highest |
| 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.