Compare towns
Chester vs Putnam vs Windsor
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chester has the most expensive homes ($442k median).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Windsor has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Chester | Putnam | Windsor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,825Lowest |
9,292 |
29,468Highest |
| Median age | 54±3.4Highest 31% above CT |
43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
43.7±1.9Lowest 6% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±4.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
19.2%±2.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Windsor and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20%±2 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
43.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.9 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Windsor and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $109,191±$18kHighest 14% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$104,725±$8k 9% above CT |
| Chester and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $442,200±$25kHighest 21% above CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$305,200±$11k 17% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,549±$247 4% above CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,681±$62Highest 13% above CT |
| Windsor and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,364Highest 4% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$5,351 19% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.4%±22.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
| Chester and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.8%Highest CT: 10% |
11.5% CT: 10% |
6.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
82.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1970Highest 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 7% above CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
21 minLowest 19% below CT |
| Work from home | 18.3%±5.6Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
16.1%±3.2 CT: 16% |
| Chester and Windsor 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 | #8 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #117 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chester School District | Putnam School District | Capitol Region Education Council · Windsor School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Putnam High School | Windsor High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5Lowest |
10.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.