Compare towns
Bristol vs Windsor Locks vs Putnam vs Southington
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 shortest commute (22 min average).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Southington 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.
| Measure | Bristol | Windsor Locks | Putnam | Southington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 61,462Highest |
12,579 |
9,292Lowest |
43,803 |
| 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±3 6% above CT |
45±1.4Highest 9% above CT |
| Southington and Putnam 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% |
18.7%±1.4 CT: 20.2% |
| Bristol and Southington 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%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
21%±1.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Southington and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3% CT: 42.5% |
28.6% CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
43.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±0.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.3%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Southington and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,076±$6k 17% below CT |
$81,205±$13k 15% below CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$124,309±$9kHighest 30% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $277,800±$8k 24% below CT |
$258,800±$14kLowest 29% below CT |
$269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
$373,800±$10kHighest about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,338±$45 10% below CT |
$1,394±$187 6% below CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,472±$77Highest about the CT average |
| Southington and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,449 18% below CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$3,860 42% below CT |
$6,206Highest 7% 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% |
43.9%±8.6 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% CT: 10% |
10.9% CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
4.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9% CT: 66.5% |
77.1% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
81.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 same as CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1974Highest 7 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
25 minHighest 6% below CT |
24 min 9% below CT |
| Work from home | 11.4%±1.7 CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
17.3%±2.9 CT: 16% |
| Windsor Locks and Southington 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 | #115 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #51 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bristol School District | Windsor Locks School District | Putnam School District | Southington School District |
| High school in town | Bristol Central High School | Windsor Locks High School | Putnam High School | Southington High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
8.9Lowest |
9.5 |
12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.