Compare towns
Putnam vs Waterford vs Windham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waterford has the highest household income ($105k).
Windham has the youngest population (median age 33.7).
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 | Waterford | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,292Lowest |
19,673 |
23,961Highest |
| Median age | 43.7±3 6% above CT |
46±2.4Highest 12% above CT |
33.7±1.9Lowest 18% below CT |
| Waterford and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.1%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±2.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Windham and Waterford 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% |
22.6%±2.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Waterford 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% |
40.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.7% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,561±$7k 26% below CT |
$104,820±$9kHighest 9% above CT |
$55,736±$5kLowest 42% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
$355,900±$14kHighest about the CT average |
$209,800±$9kLowest 43% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44 23% below CT |
$1,651±$153Highest 11% above CT |
$1,107±$69Lowest 26% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$4,876Highest 27% below CT |
$4,633 30% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
44.4%±12 CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Windham and Waterford 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% |
20.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% CT: 66.5% |
79.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
47.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1968Highest 1 yr newer than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 6% below CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
24 min 8% below CT |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
10.2%±2.2Highest CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
| Waterford and Putnam 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 | #80 of 149 in CT | #143 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Learn · Waterford School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | Waterford High School | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
11.1Highest |
9.8 |
| 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.