Compare towns

Putnam vs Berlin vs Windsor Locks vs Winchester

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 shortest commute (22 min average).
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.

MeasurePutnamBerlinWindsor LocksWinchester
People
Population
9,292
3,378Lowest
12,579Highest
10,284
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.
49.1±6.2
26% above U.S.
Berlin 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
U.S.: 22%
13.4%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.4%±2.9
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%
27.4%±5.1
U.S.: 17.2%
Berlin and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
20%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
48.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
28.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
27.8%
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%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
Windsor Locks and Berlin 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
13% below U.S.
$121,336±$12kHighest
50% above U.S.
$81,205±$13k
about the U.S. average
$66,519±$12kLowest
18% below 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.
$249,500±$17kLowest
25% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,149±$44Lowest
19% below U.S.
$2,420±$933Highest
71% above U.S.
$1,394±$187
about the U.S. average
$1,174±$116
17% 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.
$4,780
53% 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%
48.9%±15.8
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%
U.S.: 12.5%
5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
12.8%Highest
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%
65.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1961
19 yrs older than U.S.
1992Highest
12 yrs newer than U.S.
1961
19 yrs older than U.S.
1955Lowest
25 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
6% below U.S.
34 minHighest
29% above U.S.
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
9%±2.8
U.S.: 15.1%
29.1%±6.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.7%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
6.9%±2.7Lowest
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 #97 of 149 in CT
School district Putnam School District Berlin-Boylston Windsor Locks School District Explorations District · Regional School District 07
High school in town Putnam High School None in town Windsor Locks High School Northwestern Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school
9.5
—
8.9Lowest
9.7Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.