Compare towns
Putnam vs Salem 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
Putnam has the most renters (49.3% rent).
Salem has the most expensive homes ($404k median).
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 | Putnam | Salem | Windsor Locks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,120 |
4,282Lowest |
12,579Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 41.2±5.1 about the CT average |
40.9±5.4Lowest about the CT average |
41.4±2.6Highest about the CT average |
| Windsor Locks and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
23.2%±5.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Salem and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17%±3.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Salem 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+ | 18.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
50.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
28.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Salem 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 32% below CT |
$123,245±$8kHighest 29% above CT |
$81,205±$13k 15% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,100±$13kLowest 33% below CT |
$403,600±$33kHighest 10% above CT |
$258,800±$14k 29% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,147±$43Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,440±$150Highest 3% below CT |
$1,394±$187 6% below CT |
| Salem and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,564Lowest 46% below CT |
$6,668Highest about the CT average |
$3,688 44% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±12.1 CT: 52.6% |
32.1%±26Lowest CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.7%Highest CT: 10% |
6.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
77.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below CT |
32 minHighest 19% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
| Work from home | 6.7%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
18%±9.6Highest CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
| Salem 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #11 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Salem School District | Windsor Locks School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Windsor Locks High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.9 |
| 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.