Compare towns
Putnam vs Bristol vs Windsor Locks vs Griswold
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).
Bristol has the youngest population (median age 37.9).
Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Griswold has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
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 | Bristol | Windsor Locks | Griswold |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,292Lowest |
61,462Highest |
12,579 |
11,530 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +0.6% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 43.7±3 6% above CT |
37.9±1.5Lowest 8% below CT |
41.4±2.6 about the CT average |
48.1±3.9Highest 17% above CT |
| Griswold and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±1.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4 CT: 20.2% |
18.5%±3.7Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Bristol and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±3.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.2%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
17.8%±3.5 CT: 18.5% |
| Putnam and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20% CT: 42.5% |
30.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
28.6% CT: 42.5% |
19.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±0.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$79,076±$6k 17% below CT |
$81,205±$13kHighest 15% below CT |
$78,719±$11k 18% below CT |
| Windsor Locks and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
$277,800±$8kHighest 24% below CT |
$258,800±$14kLowest 29% below CT |
$275,900±$42k 25% below CT |
| Bristol and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,338±$45 10% below CT |
$1,394±$187Highest 6% below CT |
$1,177±$65 21% below CT |
| Windsor Locks and Bristol 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 |
$5,449Highest 18% below CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$4,628 30% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
55.5%±5.9 CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
57.5%±15.5 CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks and Griswold 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% |
10.7% CT: 10% |
10.9% CT: 10% |
7.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
64.9% CT: 66.5% |
77.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.3% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1967 same as CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1977Highest 10 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below CT |
24 min 11% below CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
31 minHighest 17% above CT |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
11.4%±1.7 CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7Highest CT: 16% |
9%±3.6Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #128 of 149 in CT | #115 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #118 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Bristol School District | Windsor Locks School District | Griswold School District |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | Bristol Central High School | Windsor Locks High School | Griswold High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5 |
14.0Highest |
8.9Lowest |
11.5 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.