Compare towns
Madison 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
Madison has the most expensive homes ($584k median).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% 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 | Madison | Putnam | Windsor Locks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,616Highest |
9,292Lowest |
12,579 |
| Median age | 51.9±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
41.4±2.6Lowest about the CT average |
| Kids under 18 | 18.1%±2.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 72.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
28.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $167,442±$16kHighest 75% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$81,205±$13k 15% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $583,900±$30kHighest 59% above CT |
$269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
$258,800±$14kLowest 29% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,025±$741Highest 36% above CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,394±$187 6% below CT |
| Madison and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,843Highest 33% above CT |
$3,860 42% below CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44%±12.3 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
10.9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
77.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
| Work from home | 30.2%±5.3Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #7 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Madison School District | Putnam School District | Windsor Locks School District |
| High school in town | Daniel Hand High School | Putnam High School | Windsor Locks High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Highest |
9.5 |
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.