Compare towns
Providence vs Putnam vs Windsor Locks
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
Towns like ProvidenceWarwick
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Providence has the most expensive homes ($362k median).
Putnam has the oldest population (median age 43.7).
Windsor Locks has the most homeowners (77.1%).
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 | Providence | Putnam | Windsor Locks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 191,767Highest |
9,292Lowest |
12,579 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 32.8±0.5Lowest 16% below U.S. |
43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Providence and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 11.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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+ | 34.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.4%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $68,119±$3kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$70,561±$7k 13% below U.S. |
$81,205±$13kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Windsor Locks and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,200±$8kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11k 19% below U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$42Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
| Providence and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418Highest 42% above U.S. |
$3,860 24% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48%±2.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 20.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 41.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Highest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Highest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 5% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.3%±1.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Providence 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 | #36 of 38 in RI | #128 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT |
| School district | MET Career and Tech · Urban Collaborative | Putnam School District | Windsor Locks School District |
| High school in town | Classical High School | Putnam High School | Windsor Locks High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 17.2Highest |
9.5 |
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.