Compare towns

Putnam vs Johnston vs Windsor Locks

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).
Johnston has the most expensive homes ($356k median).
Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).

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.

MeasurePutnamJohnstonWindsor Locks
People
Population
9,292Lowest
29,835Highest
12,579
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+2.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
43.7±3
12% above U.S.
44.5±2.5Highest
14% above U.S.
41.4±2.6Lowest
6% above U.S.
Johnston and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.6%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.5%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
18.5%±3.1
U.S.: 17.2%
22.1%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.2%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Johnston 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%
28.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
28.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.1%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.9%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
Johnston 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
13% below U.S.
$91,866±$6kHighest
14% above U.S.
$81,205±$13k
about the U.S. average
Johnston 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.
$355,500±$13kHighest
7% above U.S.
$258,800±$14kLowest
22% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,149±$44Lowest
19% below U.S.
$1,275±$132
10% below U.S.
$1,394±$187Highest
about the U.S. average
Windsor Locks and Johnston 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.
$4,614Highest
48% above U.S.
$3,688Lowest
18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
37.7%±11.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
38.1%±8.7
U.S.: 51.1%
58.2%±16.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Windsor Locks and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
59.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
77.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
1968Highest
12 yrs older than U.S.
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minHighest
6% below U.S.
24 min
11% below U.S.
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
Work from home
9%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
9.9%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
17.7%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #128 of 149 in CT #32 of 38 in RI #109 of 149 in CT
School district Putnam School District Johnston Windsor Locks School District
High school in town Putnam High School Johnston Senior High 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

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.