Compare towns
Putnam vs Suffield vs Willimantic vs Windsor Locks
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Suffield has the most expensive homes ($408k median).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 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 | Suffield | Willimantic | Windsor Locks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,292Lowest |
15,702 |
18,096Highest |
12,579 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 43.7±3 6% above CT |
44.5±1.7Highest 8% above CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
41.4±2.6 about the CT average |
| Suffield 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% |
16.2%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4 CT: 20.2% |
| Willimantic and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±3.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.4%±2.2 CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Putnam and Suffield 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% |
40.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
24.2% CT: 42.5% |
28.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,561±$7k 26% below CT |
$119,472±$13kHighest 25% above CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$81,205±$13k 15% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
$407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$258,800±$14k 29% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44 23% below CT |
$1,424±$141Highest 4% below CT |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,394±$187 6% below CT |
| Suffield 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 |
$6,456Highest about the CT average |
$4,678 30% below CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks and Willimantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.5% CT: 10% |
4.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
10.9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% CT: 66.5% |
86.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
77.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below CT |
26 minHighest 3% below CT |
23 min 12% below CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
| Suffield 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | — | #109 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Suffield School District | — | Windsor Locks School District |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | Suffield High School | — | Windsor Locks High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5 |
10.9Highest |
— | 8.9Lowest |
| 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.