Compare towns
Putnam vs Lancaster vs Windsor Locks vs Thompson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putnam has the most renters (49.3% rent).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Putnam | Lancaster | Windsor Locks | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,120Lowest |
8,606 |
12,579Highest |
9,337 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 41.2±5.1Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $65,511±$7kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,100±$13kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14k 22% below U.S. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,147±$43 19% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,564Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$3,688 18% above U.S. |
$3,822 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±12.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.7%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #128 of 149 in CT | #145 of 282 in MA | #109 of 149 in CT | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Nashoba | Windsor Locks School District | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Windsor Locks High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.9Highest |
7.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.