Compare towns
Groton vs Putnam vs Windsor Locks
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Groton has the most expensive homes ($743k median).
Putnam has the most renters (49.3% rent).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 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 | Groton | Putnam | Windsor Locks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,390 |
7,120Lowest |
12,579Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 41.4±2.7Highest 6% above U.S. |
41.2±5.1Lowest 6% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Highest 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 28.3%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windsor Locks and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 | $192,958±$27kHighest 139% above U.S. |
$65,511±$7kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $743,400±$46kHighest 123% above U.S. |
$245,100±$13kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$258,800±$14k 22% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,458±$335Highest 3% above U.S. |
$1,147±$43Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
| Groton and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,564Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$3,688 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.8%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±12.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.5%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.7%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #39 of 282 in MA | #128 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | — | Windsor Locks School District |
| High school in town | Groton Dunstable Regional | — | Windsor Locks High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.7Highest |
— | 8.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.