Compare towns
Putnam vs Ellington vs Windsor Locks vs Putnam
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 oldest population (median age 43.7).
Ellington has the highest household income ($130k).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Putnam has the most renters (49.3% rent).
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 | Ellington | Windsor Locks | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,292 |
16,455Highest |
12,579 |
7,120Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | -2.1% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 43.7±3Highest 6% above CT |
40.9±2.4Lowest about the CT average |
41.4±2.6 about the CT average |
41.2±5.1 about the CT average |
| Putnam and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
24%±3.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.9%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
| Ellington and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
18.8%±2.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
17%±3.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Ellington 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% CT: 42.5% |
51.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
28.6% CT: 42.5% |
18.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6%±2.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Ellington 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±$7k 26% below CT |
$129,913±$17kHighest 36% above CT |
$81,205±$13k 15% below CT |
$65,511±$7kLowest 32% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
$366,900±$17kHighest about the CT average |
$258,800±$14k 29% below CT |
$245,100±$13kLowest 33% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44 23% below CT |
$1,737±$212Highest 17% above CT |
$1,394±$187 6% below CT |
$1,147±$43Lowest 23% below CT |
| Ellington 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 |
$6,751Highest about the CT average |
$3,688 44% below CT |
$3,564Lowest 46% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
45.5%±10.3 CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
38.2%±12.1 CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks and Ellington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.5% CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.9% CT: 10% |
11.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% CT: 66.5% |
72.2% CT: 66.5% |
77.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
50.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below CT |
31 minHighest 18% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
25 min 5% below CT |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
18.4%±3.9Highest CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
6.7%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
| Ellington 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 | #46 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Ellington School District | Windsor Locks School District | — |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | Ellington High School | Windsor Locks High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5 |
10.3Highest |
8.9Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.