Compare towns
Putnam vs Sprague vs Windsor Locks vs Plainville
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).
Sprague has the highest household income ($93k).
Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Sprague | Windsor Locks | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,292 |
2,962Lowest |
12,579 |
17,551Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +0.9% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 43.7±3 6% above CT |
48.5±10.7Highest 18% above CT |
41.4±2.6Lowest about the CT average |
44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
| Sprague and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
17.1%±5.4 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
19.9%±3.9 CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Plainville and Sprague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20% CT: 42.5% |
19.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
28.6% CT: 42.5% |
30%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Plainville and Windsor Locks 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 |
$92,850±$11kHighest 3% below CT |
$81,205±$13k 15% below CT |
$84,343±$7k 12% below CT |
| Sprague and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
$273,500±$17kHighest 25% below CT |
$258,800±$14k 29% below CT |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
| Sprague and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44 23% below CT |
$1,247±$144 16% below CT |
$1,394±$187Highest 6% below CT |
$1,126±$147Lowest 24% below CT |
| Windsor Locks and Sprague 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 |
$4,668 30% below CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$4,798Highest 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
26.9%±12.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4 CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks and Plainville 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% |
8.1% CT: 10% |
10.9% CT: 10% |
6.5%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
67.2% CT: 66.5% |
77.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
67.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below CT |
30 minHighest 12% above CT |
22 min 17% below CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
5%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7Highest CT: 16% |
10.7%±2 CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #128 of 149 in CT | #141 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Sprague School District | — | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | None in town | — | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
— | — | 11.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.