Compare towns
Putnam vs Washington vs Windsor vs Winchester
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).
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k median).
Windsor has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Winchester has the most affordable homes ($250k median).
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 | Washington | Windsor | Winchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,292 |
3,676Lowest |
29,468Highest |
10,284 |
| Median age | 43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
49.9±5.5Highest 21% above CT |
43.7±1.9Lowest 6% above CT |
49.1±6.2 19% above CT |
| Washington and Winchester 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% |
19%±4.7 CT: 20.2% |
19.2%±2.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.4%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Windsor and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26.9%±5.3 CT: 18.5% |
20%±2 CT: 18.5% |
27.4%±5.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Winchester and Washington 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% |
53.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
43.2% CT: 42.5% |
27.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.4%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.3 CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
| Washington and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,561±$7k 26% below CT |
$101,549±$16k 6% above CT |
$104,725±$8kHighest 9% above CT |
$66,519±$12kLowest 31% below CT |
| Windsor and Washington 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 |
$660,200±$130kHighest 80% above CT |
$305,200±$11k 17% below CT |
$249,500±$17kLowest 32% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,204±$264 19% below CT |
$1,681±$62Highest 13% above CT |
$1,174±$116 21% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$4,709 29% below CT |
$5,351Highest 19% below CT |
$4,780 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
26.1%±24Lowest CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
48.9%±15.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Winchester and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.5% CT: 10% |
9% CT: 10% |
6.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
12.8%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
79% CT: 66.5% |
82.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
65.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1955Lowest 12 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below CT |
26 min 4% below CT |
21 minLowest 19% below CT |
26 minHighest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
20.1%±9Highest CT: 16% |
16.1%±3.2 CT: 16% |
6.9%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
| Washington and Windsor 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 | #17 of 149 in CT | #117 of 149 in CT | #97 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Regional School District 12 | Capitol Region Education Council · Windsor School District | Explorations District · Regional School District 07 |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | Shepaug Valley School | Windsor High School | Northwestern Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5 |
9.1Lowest |
10.2Highest |
9.7 |
| 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.