Compare towns
Columbia vs Putnam vs Windham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Columbia has the most people working from home (21.6%).
Windham has the youngest population (median age 33.7).
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 | Columbia | Putnam | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,300Lowest |
9,292 |
23,961Highest |
| Median age | 51.3±10.3Highest 25% above CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
33.7±1.9Lowest 18% below CT |
| Columbia and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.7%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±2.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Windham and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.9%±5.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Columbia and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
22.7% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.5 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $127,000±$30kHighest 33% above CT |
$70,561±$7k 26% below CT |
$55,736±$5kLowest 42% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$16kHighest about the CT average |
$269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
$209,800±$9kLowest 43% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
$1,149±$44Highest 23% below CT |
$1,107±$69 26% below CT |
| Putnam and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,228Highest 21% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$4,633 30% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Windham and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5% CT: 10% |
20.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8% CT: 66.5% |
47.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
24 minLowest 8% below CT |
| Work from home | 21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #114 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #143 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Columbia School District | Putnam School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS |
| High school in town | None in town | Putnam High School | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5Lowest |
9.8Highest |
| 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.