Compare towns
Ansonia vs Preston vs Windham vs Putnam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ansonia has the oldest housing (typical home built 1954).
Preston has the most homeowners (91.7%).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
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 | Ansonia | Preston | Windham | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,033 |
4,821Lowest |
23,961Highest |
9,292 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7% CT: +0.9% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 40.1±1.6 about the CT average |
46.2±7Highest 12% above CT |
33.7±1.9Lowest 18% below CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
| Preston and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4 CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±2.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Windham and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
23%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
| Preston and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.9% CT: 42.5% |
28.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.7% CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,877±$10k 10% below CT |
$116,648±$27kHighest 22% above CT |
$55,736±$5kLowest 42% below CT |
$70,561±$7k 26% below CT |
| Preston and Ansonia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $287,200±$14k 22% below CT |
$361,900±$13kHighest about the CT average |
$209,800±$9kLowest 43% below CT |
$269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,476±$121Highest about the CT average |
$1,433±$1k 4% below CT |
$1,107±$69Lowest 26% below CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
| Ansonia and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,446Highest 18% below CT |
$4,749 29% below CT |
$4,633 30% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.7%±10 CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5 CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Windham and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.4% CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
20.7%Highest CT: 10% |
11.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.1% CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
47.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
59.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 13 yrs older than CT |
1970Highest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1956 11 yrs older than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the CT average |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
24 min 8% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.9 CT: 16% |
10.3%±6Highest CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
| Preston and Ansonia 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 | #142 of 149 in CT | #93 of 149 in CT | #143 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Ansonia School District | Preston School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Emmett O'Brien Technical High School | None in town | Windham High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
— | 9.8 |
9.5Lowest |
| 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.