Compare towns
Groton vs Putnam vs Windsor Locks
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Groton has the most renters (54.6% rent).
Putnam has the oldest population (median age 43.7).
Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).
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 | Groton | Putnam | Windsor Locks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,490 |
9,292Lowest |
12,579Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.6% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 39±3.7Lowest 5% below CT |
43.7±3Highest 6% above CT |
41.4±2.6 about the CT average |
| Putnam and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±3.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 16.2%±2.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7 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+ | 38.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
28.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,577±$8k 17% below CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$81,205±$13kHighest 15% below CT |
| Windsor Locks and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $306,600±$26kHighest 16% below CT |
$269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
$258,800±$14kLowest 29% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,250±$98 16% below CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,394±$187Highest 6% below CT |
| Windsor Locks and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,411Highest 34% below CT |
$3,860 42% below CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.5%±11.7 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 18.6%Highest CT: 10% |
11.5% CT: 10% |
10.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 45.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
59.8% CT: 66.5% |
77.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 34% below CT |
25 minHighest 6% below CT |
22 min 17% below CT |
| Work from home | 4.8%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7Highest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #128 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Putnam School District | Windsor Locks School District |
| High school in town | — | Putnam High School | Windsor Locks High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5Highest |
8.9Lowest |
| 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.