Compare towns
Putnam vs Salem vs Windsor Locks vs Thompson
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).
Salem has the most expensive homes ($404k median).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Salem | Windsor Locks | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,292 |
4,282Lowest |
12,579Highest |
9,337 |
| Median age | 43.7±3 6% above CT |
40.9±5.4Lowest about the CT average |
41.4±2.6 about the CT average |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
23.2%±5.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4 CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Salem and Putnam 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%±4.7 CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Thompson and Salem 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% |
28.6% CT: 42.5% |
21.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Salem 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 |
$123,245±$8kHighest 29% above CT |
$81,205±$13k 15% below CT |
$93,629±$18k about the CT average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
$403,600±$33kHighest 10% above CT |
$258,800±$14kLowest 29% below CT |
$291,900±$24k 20% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44 23% below CT |
$1,440±$150Highest 3% below CT |
$1,394±$187 6% below CT |
$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
| Salem and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,860 42% below CT |
$6,668Highest about the CT average |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$3,822 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
32.1%±26Lowest CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7 CT: 52.6% |
| 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%Highest CT: 10% |
6.2% CT: 10% |
10.9% CT: 10% |
5.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
77.1% CT: 66.5% |
84.3% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1963 4 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below CT |
32 min 19% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
18%±9.6Highest CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
| Salem and Windsor Locks 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 | #109 of 149 in CT | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Salem School District | Windsor Locks School District | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | None in town | Windsor Locks High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Highest |
— | 8.9 |
7.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.