Compare towns
Putnam vs Sheffield vs Windsor Locks
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Sheffield has the most expensive homes ($409k median).
Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).
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 | Sheffield | Windsor Locks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,292 |
3,330Lowest |
12,579Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
48.2±8Highest 24% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Sheffield and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sheffield 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
37.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±4.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks and Sheffield 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 13% below U.S. |
$92,120±$31kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
| Sheffield and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $269,200±$11k 19% below U.S. |
$409,400±$32kHighest 23% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,837±$1kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
| Sheffield 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 24% above U.S. |
$4,520Highest 45% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±21.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #128 of 149 in CT | #250 of 282 in MA | #109 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Southern Berkshire | Windsor Locks School District |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | Mt Everett Regional | Windsor Locks High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Highest |
7.8Lowest |
8.9 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.