Compare towns
Putnam vs Norwalk vs Windsor Locks
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).
Norwalk has the most expensive homes ($558k median).
Windsor Locks has the most homeowners (77.1%).
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 | Norwalk | Windsor Locks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,292Lowest |
92,187Highest |
12,579 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.5% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 43.7±3Highest 6% above CT |
40.6±1Lowest about the CT average |
41.4±2.6 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% |
18.8%±1.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Norwalk 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% |
17%±1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7 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%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
44.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
28.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.7%±0.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Norwalk 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 26% below CT |
$107,616±$7kHighest 12% above CT |
$81,205±$13k 15% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
$558,000±$21kHighest 52% above CT |
$258,800±$14kLowest 29% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
$2,073±$87Highest 39% above CT |
$1,394±$187 6% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,860 42% below CT |
$7,817Highest 18% above CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.1%±5.2 CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks and Norwalk 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% |
9.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% CT: 66.5% |
55.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
77.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1967Highest same as CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
15.1%±1.4 CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7Highest CT: 16% |
| Windsor Locks and Norwalk 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 | #112 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Norwalk School District | Windsor Locks School District |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | Brien McMahon High School | Windsor Locks High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5 |
14.7Highest |
8.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.