Compare towns
Putnam vs Sturbridge vs Windsor Locks vs Danielson
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).
Sturbridge has the highest household income ($137k).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Danielson has the youngest population (median age 34.5).
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 | Sturbridge | Windsor Locks | Danielson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,120 |
9,960 |
12,579Highest |
4,209Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.2±5.1 6% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
34.5±3.6Lowest 11% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±6.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Sturbridge and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sturbridge 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
11.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.2%±6.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Danielson 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 | $65,511±$7k 19% below U.S. |
$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
$64,050±$15kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,100±$13k 26% below U.S. |
$425,800±$18kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14k 22% below U.S. |
$224,600±$13kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,147±$43Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,235±$194 13% below U.S. |
| Windsor Locks and Danielson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,564Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$6,520Highest 109% above U.S. |
$3,688 18% above U.S. |
$4,009 29% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±12.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.7%±17.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Danielson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
21.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
53% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.7%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sturbridge 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 | #89 of 282 in MA | #109 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | — | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Windsor Locks School District | — |
| High school in town | — | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Windsor Locks High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.7Lowest |
8.9Highest |
— |
| 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.