Compare towns
Putnam vs Thompson 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).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Thompson | Windsor Locks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,292Lowest |
9,337 |
12,579Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +0.9% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 43.7±3 6% above CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
41.4±2.6Lowest about the CT average |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Thompson 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% |
21.9% CT: 42.5% |
28.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Putnam 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 |
$93,629±$18kHighest about the CT average |
$81,205±$13k 15% below CT |
| Thompson 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 |
$291,900±$24kHighest 20% below CT |
$258,800±$14kLowest 29% below CT |
| Thompson 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 |
$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
$1,394±$187Highest 6% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,860Highest 42% below CT |
$3,822 42% below CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7 CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
| 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 CT: 10% |
5.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
84.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
77.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1963Highest 4 yrs older than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7Highest CT: 16% |
| Windsor Locks and Thompson 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Thompson School District | — |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Highest |
7.9Lowest |
— |
| 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.