Compare towns
Putnam vs Salem vs Windsor Locks 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).
Salem has the highest household income ($123k).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Winchester has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
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 | Winchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,292 |
4,282Lowest |
12,579Highest |
10,284 |
| Median age | 43.7±3 6% above CT |
40.9±5.4Lowest about the CT average |
41.4±2.6 about the CT average |
49.1±6.2Highest 19% above CT |
| Winchester and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
23.2%±5.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4 CT: 20.2% |
15.4%±2.9Lowest 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% |
27.4%±5.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Winchester 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% |
27.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.7 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±$7k 26% below CT |
$123,245±$8kHighest 29% above CT |
$81,205±$13k 15% below CT |
$66,519±$12kLowest 31% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
$403,600±$33kHighest 10% above CT |
$258,800±$14k 29% below CT |
$249,500±$17kLowest 32% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,440±$150Highest 3% below CT |
$1,394±$187 6% below CT |
$1,174±$116 21% 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 |
$4,780 28% 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% |
48.9%±15.8 CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks 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% |
6.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.9% CT: 10% |
12.8%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
77.1% CT: 66.5% |
65.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1955Lowest 12 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below CT |
32 minHighest 19% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
26 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
18%±9.6Highest CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
6.9%±2.7Lowest 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 | #97 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Salem School District | Windsor Locks School District | Explorations District · Regional School District 07 |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | None in town | Windsor Locks High School | Northwestern Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5 |
— | 8.9Lowest |
9.7Highest |
| 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.