Compare towns
Clinton vs Putnam vs Windsor Locks vs Sterling
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Clinton has the most renters (45.3% rent).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Sterling has the highest household income ($129k).
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 | Clinton | Putnam | Windsor Locks | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,563Highest |
9,292 |
12,579 |
8,183Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.6±2.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
51.5±1.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sterling and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Clinton 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 | $89,781±$10k 11% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
$129,063±$27kHighest 60% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $387,300±$19k 16% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11k 19% below U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$498,800±$48kHighest 50% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$76 about the U.S. average |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,699±$161Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,654 49% above U.S. |
$3,860 24% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$6,757Highest 117% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±6.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sterling 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 | #246 of 282 in MA | #128 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #135 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Clinton | Putnam School District | Windsor Locks School District | Wachusett |
| High school in town | Clinton Senior High | Putnam High School | Windsor Locks High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
9.5 |
8.9Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.