Compare towns
Putnam vs Gardner 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
Gardner has the most expensive homes ($302k median).
Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).
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 | Gardner | Windsor Locks | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,292Lowest |
21,148Highest |
12,579 |
9,337 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Gardner 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% |
23.8% 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% |
4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks and Gardner 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. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
$93,629±$18kHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Thompson and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $269,200±$11k 19% below U.S. |
$301,600±$20kHighest 9% below U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
| Gardner and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,109±$51 22% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,860 24% above U.S. |
$4,150Highest 33% 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% |
49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Thompson 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% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest 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. |
1954Lowest 26 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. |
31 min 16% 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% |
13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Gardner 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 | #273 of 282 in MA | #109 of 149 in CT | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Gardner | Windsor Locks School District | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | Gardner High | Windsor Locks High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5 |
13.5Highest |
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.