Compare towns
Putnam vs Willimantic vs Windham
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 oldest population (median age 41.2).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
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 | Willimantic | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,120Lowest |
18,096 |
23,961Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
+2.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 41.2±5.1Highest about the CT average |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
33.7±1.9 18% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±2.4 CT: 20.2% |
| Willimantic and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17%±3.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
14.3%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
| Putnam and Windham 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% |
24.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.7% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Willimantic and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $65,511±$7kHighest 32% below CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$55,736±$5k 42% below CT |
| Putnam and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,100±$13kHighest 33% below CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$209,800±$9k 43% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,147±$43Highest 23% below CT |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,107±$69 26% below CT |
| Putnam and Windham 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 |
$4,678Highest 30% below CT |
$4,633 30% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±12.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Windham and Willimantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
20.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
47.4% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Highest 11 yrs older than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1956Highest 11 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 5% below CT |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
24 min 8% below CT |
| Work from home | 6.7%±2.7Highest CT: 16% |
6.2%±2 CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
| Putnam and Willimantic 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 | — | #143 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS |
| High school in town | — | — | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8 |
| 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.