Compare towns
Putnam vs Sterling vs Windsor Locks vs Thompson
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).
Sterling has the most expensive homes ($499k 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 | Sterling | Windsor Locks | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,292 |
8,183Lowest |
12,579Highest |
9,337 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
51.5±1.8 32% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Thompson and Sterling 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% |
18.6%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Sterling 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% |
48.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks and Sterling 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. |
$129,063±$27kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
| Sterling and Thompson 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. |
$498,800±$48kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,699±$161Highest 20% above U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Sterling 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. |
$6,757Highest 117% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$3,822 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sterling 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 | #135 of 282 in MA | #109 of 149 in CT | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Wachusett | 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 |
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.