Compare towns
Winchester vs Windsor vs Derby vs Barkhamsted
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).
Windsor has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Derby has the most renters (38.1% rent).
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 | Windsor | Derby | Barkhamsted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,284 |
29,468Highest |
12,487 |
3,678Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -4.5% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 49.1±6.2 19% above CT |
43.7±1.9Lowest 6% above CT |
46.4±3.1 13% above CT |
50.2±3.3Highest 22% above CT |
| 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%±2.9 CT: 20.2% |
19.2%±2.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.9 CT: 20.2% |
| Windsor 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 CT: 18.5% |
20%±2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
21.1%±3.9 CT: 18.5% |
27.2%±7.1 CT: 18.5% |
| 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 CT: 42.5% |
43.2% CT: 42.5% |
35.6% CT: 42.5% |
54.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.3%±2.7 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,519±$12kLowest 31% below CT |
$104,725±$8k 9% above CT |
$79,500±$11k 17% below CT |
$123,544±$9kHighest 29% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $249,500±$17kLowest 32% below CT |
$305,200±$11k 17% below CT |
$256,700±$21k 30% below CT |
$368,000±$15kHighest about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$116 21% below CT |
$1,681±$62Highest 13% above CT |
$1,452±$95 about the CT average |
$1,164±$114Lowest 22% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,780Lowest 28% below CT |
$5,351 19% below CT |
$5,510 17% below CT |
$6,354Highest 4% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.9%±15.8 CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
53.9%±12.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
28.8%±35.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| 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 CT: 10% |
6.7% CT: 10% |
10.8% CT: 10% |
3.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.8% CT: 66.5% |
82.4% CT: 66.5% |
61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 12 yrs older than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1967 same as CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the CT average |
21 minLowest 19% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
28 minHighest 6% above CT |
| Work from home | 6.9%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
16.1%±3.2 CT: 16% |
15.1%±4.8 CT: 16% |
20.3%±7.1Highest CT: 16% |
| Barkhamsted and Windsor 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 | #117 of 149 in CT | #138 of 149 in CT | #63 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Explorations District · Regional School District 07 | Capitol Region Education Council · Windsor School District | Derby School District | Barkhamsted School District |
| High school in town | Northwestern Regional High School | Windsor High School | Derby High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
10.2Highest |
9.7Lowest |
— |
| 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.