Compare towns

Putnam vs Saugus vs Windsor Locks vs Putnam

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Saugus has the most expensive homes ($603k median).
Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Putnam has the most renters (49.3% rent).

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.

MeasurePutnamSaugusWindsor LocksPutnam
People
Population
9,292
28,773Highest
12,579
7,120Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+7.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
-2.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.7±3
12% above U.S.
44.5±2.5Highest
14% above U.S.
41.4±2.6
6% above U.S.
41.2±5.1Lowest
6% above U.S.
Saugus 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
U.S.: 22%
15.2%±2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±3.4
U.S.: 22%
18.9%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
Putnam 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
U.S.: 17.2%
22%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.2%±2.7
U.S.: 17.2%
17%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Saugus 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
31.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
28.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
18.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
5.9%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
Windsor Locks and Saugus 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
13% below U.S.
$101,539±$3kHighest
26% above U.S.
$81,205±$13k
about the U.S. average
$65,511±$7kLowest
19% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$269,200±$11k
19% below U.S.
$603,400±$13kHighest
81% above U.S.
$258,800±$14k
22% below U.S.
$245,100±$13kLowest
26% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,149±$44
19% below U.S.
$2,241±$201Highest
59% above U.S.
$1,394±$187
about the U.S. average
$1,147±$43Lowest
19% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,860
24% above U.S.
$6,049Highest
94% above U.S.
$3,688
18% above U.S.
$3,564Lowest
14% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
37.7%±11.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
53%±9.2
U.S.: 51.1%
58.2%±16.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
38.2%±12.1
U.S.: 51.1%
Windsor Locks and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
59.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
71.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
77.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
50.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1961
19 yrs older than U.S.
1962Highest
18 yrs older than U.S.
1961
19 yrs older than U.S.
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
6% below U.S.
30 minHighest
12% above U.S.
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
25 min
5% below U.S.
Work from home
9%±2.8
U.S.: 15.1%
14.3%±2.4
U.S.: 15.1%
17.7%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.7%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Windsor Locks and Saugus 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 #194 of 282 in MA #109 of 149 in CT #128 of 149 in CT
School district Putnam School District Saugus Windsor Locks School District —
High school in town Putnam High School Saugus High Windsor Locks High School —
Students per teacherat that high school
9.5
15.5Highest
8.9Lowest
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U.S. 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.