Compare towns
Putnam vs Salem vs Windham
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).
Salem has the most people working from home (18%).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($210k 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 | Salem | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,292 |
4,282Lowest |
23,961Highest |
| Median age | 43.7±3Highest 6% above CT |
40.9±5.4 about the CT average |
33.7±1.9Lowest 18% below CT |
| Putnam and Salem 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% |
23.2%±5.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±2.4 CT: 20.2% |
| Salem and Windham 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% |
19.7%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Salem 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 CT: 42.5% |
50.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.7% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,561±$7k 26% below CT |
$123,245±$8kHighest 29% above CT |
$55,736±$5kLowest 42% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
$403,600±$33kHighest 10% above CT |
$209,800±$9kLowest 43% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44 23% below CT |
$1,440±$150Highest 3% below CT |
$1,107±$69Lowest 26% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$6,668Highest about the CT average |
$4,633 30% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
32.1%±26Lowest CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Windham and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.5% CT: 10% |
6.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
20.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% CT: 66.5% |
86.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
47.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below CT |
32 minHighest 19% above CT |
24 minLowest 8% below CT |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
18%±9.6Highest CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
| Salem 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 | #11 of 149 in CT | #143 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Salem School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | None in town | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
— | 9.8Highest |
| 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.