Compare towns

Winsted vs Plainfield 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

Winsted has the most affordable homes ($219k median).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Barkhamsted has the highest household income ($124k).

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.

MeasureWinstedPlainfieldDerbyBarkhamsted
People
Population
6,977
15,141Highest
12,487
3,678Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-6.7%Lowest
CT: +0.9%
—
-4.5%Highest
CT: +0.9%
—
Median age
47.6±7.3
16% above CT
37±4.5Lowest
10% below CT
46.4±3.1
13% above CT
50.2±3.3Highest
22% above CT
Barkhamsted and Winsted are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
14.4%±3.3Lowest
CT: 20.2%
19.4%±2.6Highest
CT: 20.2%
14.6%±2.9
CT: 20.2%
16.4%±3.9
CT: 20.2%
Plainfield and Barkhamsted are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
25%±4.2
CT: 18.5%
16.6%±2.4Lowest
CT: 18.5%
21.1%±3.9
CT: 18.5%
27.2%±7.1Highest
CT: 18.5%
Barkhamsted and Winsted are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
26.8%
CT: 42.5%
15%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
35.6%
CT: 42.5%
54.3%Highest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.9%±2.4Lowest
CT: 7.1%
5.6%±1.8
CT: 7.1%
5.9%±2Highest
CT: 7.1%
5.3%±2.7
CT: 7.1%
Derby and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$64,871±$12kLowest
32% below CT
$76,993±$8k
20% below CT
$79,500±$11k
17% below CT
$123,544±$9kHighest
29% above CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$218,900±$14kLowest
40% below CT
$272,100±$16k
26% below CT
$256,700±$21k
30% below CT
$368,000±$15kHighest
about the CT average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,183±$130
20% below CT
$1,204±$70
19% below CT
$1,452±$95Highest
about the CT average
$1,164±$114Lowest
22% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,754Lowest
43% below CT
$4,209
37% below CT
$5,510
17% below CT
$6,354Highest
4% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
45.5%±16.7
CT: 52.6%
39.8%±9.5
CT: 52.6%
53.9%±12.6Highest
CT: 52.6%
28.8%±35.4Lowest
CT: 52.6%
Derby and Winsted are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
15.9%Highest
CT: 10%
8.7%
CT: 10%
10.8%
CT: 10%
3.6%Lowest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
54.7%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
73.6%
CT: 66.5%
61.9%
CT: 66.5%
92.9%Highest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1942Lowest
25 yrs older than CT
1971
4 yrs newer than CT
1967
same as CT
1978Highest
11 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
5% below CT
27 min
about the CT average
27 min
about the CT average
28 minHighest
6% above CT
Work from home
7.7%±3.5Lowest
CT: 16%
10%±4
CT: 16%
15.1%±4.8
CT: 16%
20.3%±7.1Highest
CT: 16%
Barkhamsted and Derby 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 — #131 of 149 in CT #138 of 149 in CT #63 of 149 in CT
School district — Plainfield School District Derby School District Barkhamsted School District
High school in town — Plainfield High School Derby High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.3Highest
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.