Compare towns
Putnam vs Bridgewater vs Windsor Locks
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 (40.2% rent).
Bridgewater has the most expensive homes ($693k median).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 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 | Bridgewater | Windsor Locks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,292 |
1,658Lowest |
12,579Highest |
| Median age | 43.7±3 6% above CT |
55.9±4.4Highest 36% above CT |
41.4±2.6Lowest about the CT average |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
14.4%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
37%±6.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
59.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
28.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.8%±5.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Bridgewater 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 26% below CT |
$159,365±$5kHighest 66% above CT |
$81,205±$13k 15% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
$693,000±$75kHighest 89% above CT |
$258,800±$14kLowest 29% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,467±$233Highest about the CT average |
$1,394±$187 6% below CT |
| Bridgewater 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 42% below CT |
$6,869Highest 3% above CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
47.8%±43 CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
3%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
92.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
77.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1975Highest 8 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below CT |
29 minHighest 11% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
25.2%±5Highest CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
| Bridgewater 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 |
| School district | Putnam School District | Regional School District 12 | Windsor Locks School District |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | None in town | Windsor Locks High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Highest |
— | 8.9Lowest |
| 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.