Compare towns
Putnam vs Windsor Locks vs Chaplin vs Thompson
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).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Chaplin has the highest household income ($98k).
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 | Windsor Locks | Chaplin | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,120 |
12,579Highest |
2,070Lowest |
9,337 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1% CT: +0.9% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 41.2±5.1Lowest about the CT average |
41.4±2.6 about the CT average |
43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±4.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4 CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2 CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest 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% |
18.2%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Thompson and Chaplin 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% |
28.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
25.4% CT: 42.5% |
21.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin 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±$7kLowest 32% below CT |
$81,205±$13k 15% below CT |
$97,846±$14kHighest about the CT average |
$93,629±$18k about the CT average |
| Chaplin 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 33% below CT |
$258,800±$14k 29% below CT |
$255,200±$24k 30% below CT |
$291,900±$24kHighest 20% below CT |
| Thompson 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±$43 23% below CT |
$1,394±$187 6% below CT |
$1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
| Chaplin 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 |
$3,688 44% below CT |
$4,524Highest 32% below CT |
$3,822 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±12.1 CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7 CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks and Thompson 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% |
10.9% CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
77.1% CT: 66.5% |
82.9% CT: 66.5% |
84.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1963 4 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
32 minHighest 22% above CT |
32 min 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 6.7%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
18.1%±10Highest CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
| Chaplin 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 | #109 of 149 in CT | — | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Windsor Locks School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | — | Windsor Locks High School | Parish Hill High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.9Highest |
7.5Lowest |
7.9 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.