Compare towns
Putnam vs Berlin vs Windsor Locks vs Plainville
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 (40.2% rent).
Berlin has the most expensive homes ($617k median).
Windsor Locks has the youngest population (median age 41.4).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Berlin | Windsor Locks | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,292 |
3,378Lowest |
12,579 |
17,551Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +10.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
49.7±2.8Highest 28% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
44.3±1.5 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.1%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
30% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainville 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 | $70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$121,336±$12kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
$84,343±$7k 4% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $269,200±$11k 19% below U.S. |
$616,600±$55kHighest 85% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14k 22% below U.S. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,860 24% above U.S. |
$7,116Highest 128% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,798 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±19.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.1%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #128 of 149 in CT | #61 of 282 in MA | #109 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Berlin-Boylston | Windsor Locks School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | None in town | Windsor Locks High School | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5 |
— | 8.9Lowest |
11.4Highest |
| 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.