Compare towns
Andover vs Putnam vs Windsor Locks vs Columbia
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Andover has the most homeowners (93.1%).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Columbia has the most people working from home (21.6%).
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 | Andover | Putnam | Windsor Locks | Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,152Lowest |
9,292 |
12,579Highest |
5,300 |
| Median age | 51.2±5.4 25% above CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
41.4±2.6Lowest about the CT average |
51.3±10.3Highest 25% above CT |
| Columbia and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±4.4 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
13.7%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 19.2%±5.1 CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.9%±5.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Columbia and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
28.6% CT: 42.5% |
34.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±4.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
4.8%±2.5 CT: 7.1% |
| Andover and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $134,632±$20kHighest 41% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$81,205±$13k 15% below CT |
$127,000±$30k 33% above CT |
| Andover and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,500±$36kHighest about the CT average |
$269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
$258,800±$14kLowest 29% below CT |
$361,500±$16k about the CT average |
| Andover and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,166±$745 22% below CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
$1,394±$187Highest 6% below CT |
$966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
| Windsor Locks and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554Highest about the CT average |
$3,860 42% below CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$5,228 21% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.8%±38.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8 CT: 52.6% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Andover and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
10.9% CT: 10% |
6.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
77.1% CT: 66.5% |
83.3% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 10 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.5%±5.4 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
| Columbia and Windsor Locks 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 | #43 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #114 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Andover School District | Putnam School District | Windsor Locks School District | Columbia School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Putnam High School | Windsor Locks High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5Highest |
8.9Lowest |
— |
| 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.