Compare towns

Putnam vs Sprague 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).
Sprague has the oldest population (median age 48.5).
Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).

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.

MeasurePutnamSpragueWindsor Locks
People
Population
7,120
2,962Lowest
12,579Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.1%
CT: +0.9%
— —
Median age
41.2±5.1Lowest
about the CT average
48.5±10.7Highest
18% above CT
41.4±2.6
about the CT average
Sprague and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.9%±4.3Highest
CT: 20.2%
17.1%±5.4Lowest
CT: 20.2%
18.6%±3.4
CT: 20.2%
Putnam and Windsor Locks 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%
19.9%±3.9Highest
CT: 18.5%
18.2%±2.7
CT: 18.5%
Sprague 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%
19.2%
CT: 42.5%
28.6%Highest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.2%±1.8
CT: 7.1%
0.6%±0.6Lowest
CT: 7.1%
5.9%±1.8Highest
CT: 7.1%
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
32% below CT
$92,850±$11kHighest
3% below CT
$81,205±$13k
15% below CT
Sprague and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$245,100±$13kLowest
33% below CT
$273,500±$17kHighest
25% below CT
$258,800±$14k
29% below CT
Sprague and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,147±$43Lowest
23% below CT
$1,247±$144
16% below CT
$1,394±$187Highest
6% below CT
Windsor Locks and Sprague 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
$4,668Highest
30% below CT
$3,688
44% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.2%±12.1
CT: 52.6%
26.9%±12.2Lowest
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%
8.1%Lowest
CT: 10%
10.9%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
50.7%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
67.2%
CT: 66.5%
77.1%Highest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1956Lowest
11 yrs older than CT
1959
8 yrs older than CT
1961Highest
6 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
5% below CT
30 minHighest
12% above CT
22 minLowest
17% below CT
Work from home
6.7%±2.7
CT: 16%
5%±2.9Lowest
CT: 16%
17.7%±3.7Highest
CT: 16%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #128 of 149 in CT #141 of 149 in CT #109 of 149 in CT
School district — Sprague 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.