Compare towns

Putnam vs Thomaston 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

Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Thomaston has the highest household income ($103k).
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.

MeasurePutnamThomastonWindsor Locks
People
Population
9,292
7,492Lowest
12,579Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — —
+0.9%
CT: +0.9%
Median age
43.7±3Highest
6% above CT
41.5±7.7
about the CT average
41.4±2.6Lowest
about the CT average
Putnam and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.6%±3.6Lowest
CT: 20.2%
20.5%±5.2Highest
CT: 20.2%
18.6%±3.4Lowest
CT: 20.2%
Thomaston 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
CT: 18.5%
18.6%±3.6Highest
CT: 18.5%
18.2%±2.7Lowest
CT: 18.5%
Thomaston 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
CT: 42.5%
34%Highest
CT: 42.5%
28.6%
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.4Lowest
CT: 7.1%
5.5%±2.1
CT: 7.1%
5.9%±1.8Highest
CT: 7.1%
Windsor Locks and Thomaston 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
$103,218±$15kHighest
8% above CT
$81,205±$13k
15% below CT
Thomaston 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
27% below CT
$282,600±$23kHighest
23% below CT
$258,800±$14kLowest
29% below CT
Thomaston 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
$1,037±$147Lowest
30% below CT
$1,394±$187Highest
6% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,860
42% below CT
$5,915Highest
11% below CT
$3,688Lowest
44% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
37.7%±11.6Lowest
CT: 52.6%
57.9%±22
CT: 52.6%
58.2%±16.8Highest
CT: 52.6%
Windsor Locks and Thomaston 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%
2.3%Lowest
CT: 10%
10.9%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
59.8%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
77.7%Highest
CT: 66.5%
77.1%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1961
6 yrs older than CT
1961
6 yrs older than CT
1961
6 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
6% below CT
27 minHighest
about the CT average
22 minLowest
17% below CT
Work from home
9%±2.8
CT: 16%
7.6%±3.7Lowest
CT: 16%
17.7%±3.7Highest
CT: 16%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #128 of 149 in CT #106 of 149 in CT #109 of 149 in CT
School district Putnam School District Thomaston School District —
High school in town Putnam High School Thomaston High School —
Students per teacherat that high school
9.5Lowest
10.7Highest
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.