Compare towns
Putnam vs Devens vs Windsor Locks vs Thompson
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).
Devens has the highest household income ($189k).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Devens | Windsor Locks | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,292 |
1,723Lowest |
12,579Highest |
9,337 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
48.6±4.3 25% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Thompson and Devens 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% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
14%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Putnam 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% |
21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±4.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks and Devens 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. |
$189,250±$63kHighest 134% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $269,200±$11k 19% below U.S. |
$556,800±$96kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,500±$539Highest 6% above U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Devens 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. |
$5,556Highest 78% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$3,822 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Devens and Windsor Locks 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% |
25.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Highest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.5%±11.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Devens 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 | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | — | Windsor Locks School District | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | — | Windsor Locks High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Highest |
— | 8.9 |
7.9Lowest |
| 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.