Compare towns
Putnam vs Andover vs Winchester
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 kids (18.6% under 18).
Andover has the highest household income ($135k).
Winchester has the most affordable homes ($250k median).
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 | Andover | Winchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,292 |
3,152Lowest |
10,284Highest |
| Median age | 43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
51.2±5.4Highest 25% above CT |
49.1±6.2 19% above CT |
| Andover and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±4.4 CT: 20.2% |
15.4%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Putnam and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.2%±5.1 CT: 18.5% |
27.4%±5.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Winchester and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
46.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
27.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
8.2%±4.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
| Andover and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,561±$7k 26% below CT |
$134,632±$20kHighest 41% above CT |
$66,519±$12kLowest 31% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
$376,500±$36kHighest about the CT average |
$249,500±$17kLowest 32% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,166±$745 22% below CT |
$1,174±$116Highest 21% below CT |
| Winchester and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$6,554Highest about the CT average |
$4,780 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
60.8%±38.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
48.9%±15.8 CT: 52.6% |
| Andover and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.5% CT: 10% |
1.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
12.8%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
93.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
65.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1977Highest 10 yrs newer than CT |
1955Lowest 12 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below CT |
25 min 5% below CT |
26 minHighest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
15.5%±5.4Highest CT: 16% |
6.9%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
| Andover and Putnam 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 | #43 of 149 in CT | #97 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Andover School District | Explorations District · Regional School District 07 |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | None in town | Northwestern Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
— | 9.7Highest |
| 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.