Compare towns
Monroe vs Putnam vs Windsor Locks vs Tolland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Monroe has the most expensive homes ($503k median).
Putnam has the most renters (49.3% rent).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Tolland has the most people working from home (20.6%).
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 | Monroe | Putnam | Windsor Locks | Tolland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,949Highest |
7,120Lowest |
12,579 |
14,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.1% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 43.5±2.2Highest 6% above CT |
41.2±5.1Lowest about the CT average |
41.4±2.6 about the CT average |
41.4±2.5 about the CT average |
| Monroe and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25.2%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.9%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.6%±3 CT: 20.2% |
| Monroe and Tolland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.6%±2 CT: 18.5% |
17%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
15.3%±2.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Windsor Locks and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
18.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
28.6% CT: 42.5% |
56.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
7.4%±2.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Tolland and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $157,250±$12kHighest 64% above CT |
$65,511±$7kLowest 32% below CT |
$81,205±$13k 15% below CT |
$133,264±$16k 39% above CT |
| Monroe and Tolland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $503,200±$31kHighest 37% above CT |
$245,100±$13kLowest 33% below CT |
$258,800±$14k 29% below CT |
$365,500±$21k about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $994±$860Lowest 33% below CT |
$1,147±$43 23% below CT |
$1,394±$187 6% below CT |
$1,680±$119Highest 13% above CT |
| Tolland 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 51% above CT |
$3,564Lowest 46% below CT |
$3,688 44% below CT |
$7,403 11% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±46.4 CT: 52.6% |
38.2%±12.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8 CT: 52.6% |
73.5%±62.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Tolland and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.7%Highest CT: 10% |
10.9% CT: 10% |
5.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
50.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
77.1% CT: 66.5% |
90.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1981Highest 14 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above CT |
25 min 5% below CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
32 min 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.4%±3.3 CT: 16% |
6.7%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
20.6%±3.6Highest CT: 16% |
| Tolland and Windsor Locks 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 | #48 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #60 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Monroe School District | — | Windsor Locks School District | Tolland School District |
| High school in town | Masuk High School | — | Windsor Locks High School | Tolland High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 8.9Lowest |
12.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.