Compare towns

Putnam vs Warren vs Windsor Locks vs Thompson

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).
Warren has the most expensive homes ($450k 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.

MeasurePutnamWarrenWindsor LocksThompson
People
Population
9,292
1,415Lowest
12,579Highest
9,337
Median age
43.7±3
6% above CT
52±5
27% above CT
41.4±2.6Lowest
about the CT average
54.1±2.2Highest
32% above CT
Thompson and Warren 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%
11.2%±3Lowest
CT: 20.2%
18.6%±3.4Highest
CT: 20.2%
11.4%±2.8
CT: 20.2%
Age 65+
18.5%±3.1
CT: 18.5%
25.8%±6.3Highest
CT: 18.5%
18.2%±2.7Lowest
CT: 18.5%
24.4%±4.3
CT: 18.5%
Warren and Thompson 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%
55.1%Highest
CT: 42.5%
28.6%
CT: 42.5%
21.9%
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.4
CT: 7.1%
10.6%±9Highest
CT: 7.1%
5.9%±1.8
CT: 7.1%
2.9%±1.3Lowest
CT: 7.1%
Warren 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
$134,583±$33kHighest
41% above CT
$81,205±$13k
15% below CT
$93,629±$18k
about the CT average
Warren 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
27% below CT
$450,000±$38kHighest
23% above CT
$258,800±$14kLowest
29% below CT
$291,900±$24k
20% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,149±$44
23% below CT
—
$1,394±$187Highest
6% below CT
$1,012±$344Lowest
32% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,860Highest
42% below CT
$3,769
43% below CT
$3,688Lowest
44% below CT
$3,822
42% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
37.7%±11.6Lowest
CT: 52.6%
55.2%±63.8
CT: 52.6%
58.2%±16.8Highest
CT: 52.6%
54%±18.7
CT: 52.6%
Windsor Locks and Warren 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%
6.7%
CT: 10%
10.9%
CT: 10%
5.9%Lowest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
59.8%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
93.3%Highest
CT: 66.5%
77.1%
CT: 66.5%
84.3%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1961Lowest
6 yrs older than CT
1984Highest
17 yrs newer than CT
1961Lowest
6 yrs older than CT
1963
4 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
6% below CT
31 min
18% above CT
22 minLowest
17% below CT
32 minHighest
20% above CT
Work from home
9%±2.8Lowest
CT: 16%
15.9%±2.7
CT: 16%
17.7%±3.7Highest
CT: 16%
13.1%±4.4
CT: 16%
Windsor Locks and Warren 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 — #109 of 149 in CT #130 of 149 in CT
School district Putnam School District Regional School District 20 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

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.