Compare towns
Bristol vs Windsor Locks vs Putnam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bristol has the youngest population (median age 37.9).
Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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 | Bristol | Windsor Locks | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 61,462Highest |
12,579 |
9,292Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 37.9±1.5Lowest 8% below CT |
41.4±2.6 about the CT average |
43.7±3Highest 6% above CT |
| Putnam and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±1.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Bristol and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.2%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Putnam and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
28.6% CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±0.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,076±$6k 17% below CT |
$81,205±$13kHighest 15% below CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
| Windsor Locks and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $277,800±$8kHighest 24% below CT |
$258,800±$14kLowest 29% below CT |
$269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
| Bristol and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,338±$45 10% below CT |
$1,394±$187Highest 6% below CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
| Windsor Locks and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,449Highest 18% below CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$3,860 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±5.9 CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.9% CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9% CT: 66.5% |
77.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest same as CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
25 minHighest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 11.4%±1.7 CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #115 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bristol School District | Windsor Locks School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Bristol Central High School | Windsor Locks High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
8.9Lowest |
9.5 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.