Compare towns
Putnam vs Preston vs Winchester
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 most renters (40.2% rent).
Preston has the highest household income ($117k).
Winchester has the most affordable homes ($250k median).
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 | Preston | Winchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,292 |
4,821Lowest |
10,284Highest |
| Median age | 43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
46.2±7 12% above CT |
49.1±6.2Highest 19% above CT |
| Winchester and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.4%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Preston and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23%±4.7 CT: 18.5% |
27.4%±5.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Winchester and Preston 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% |
28.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
27.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
| Preston and Winchester 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 |
$116,648±$27kHighest 22% above CT |
$66,519±$12kLowest 31% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
$361,900±$13kHighest about the CT average |
$249,500±$17kLowest 32% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,433±$1kHighest 4% below CT |
$1,174±$116 21% below CT |
| Preston and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$4,749 29% below CT |
$4,780Highest 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
48.9%±15.8 CT: 52.6% |
| Preston and Winchester 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% |
12.8%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
65.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1970Highest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1955Lowest 12 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
26 minHighest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
10.3%±6Highest CT: 16% |
6.9%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
| Preston and Putnam 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 | #93 of 149 in CT | #97 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Preston School District | Explorations District · Regional School District 07 |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | None in town | Northwestern Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
— | 9.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.