Compare towns
Groton vs Windham vs Putnam
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 shortest commute (18 min average).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Putnam has the most people working from home (9%).
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 | Windham | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,490 |
23,961Highest |
9,292Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.6% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 39±3.7 5% below CT |
33.7±1.9Lowest 18% below CT |
43.7±3Highest 6% above CT |
| Putnam and Groton 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% |
20.1%±2.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 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+ | 16.2%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Putnam and Groton 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% |
22.7% CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,577±$8kHighest 17% below CT |
$55,736±$5kLowest 42% below CT |
$70,561±$7k 26% below CT |
| Groton and Putnam 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 |
$209,800±$9kLowest 43% below CT |
$269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,250±$98Highest 16% below CT |
$1,107±$69Lowest 26% below CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
| Groton and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,411 34% below CT |
$4,633Highest 30% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.5%±11.7 CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Windham and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 18.6% CT: 10% |
20.7%Highest CT: 10% |
11.5%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 45.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
47.4% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 34% below CT |
24 min 8% below CT |
25 minHighest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 4.8%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Highest CT: 16% |
| Putnam and Windham 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 | — | #143 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | — | Windham High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Highest |
9.5Lowest |
| 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.