Compare towns
Putnam vs Westminster vs Windsor Locks vs Winchester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Westminster has the most expensive homes ($422k median).
Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).
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 | Westminster | Windsor Locks | Winchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,292 |
8,374Lowest |
12,579Highest |
10,284 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +12.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
48.3±4.6 24% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
49.1±6.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Winchester and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Westminster 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Winchester and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks and Winchester 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 13% below U.S. |
$106,331±$22kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
$66,519±$12kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Westminster 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 19% below U.S. |
$422,000±$36kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14k 22% below U.S. |
$249,500±$17kLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,843±$268Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,174±$116 17% below U.S. |
| Westminster and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,860 24% above U.S. |
$4,973Highest 59% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,780 53% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60%±27.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±15.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Westminster and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
65.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Westminster 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 | #112 of 282 in MA | #109 of 149 in CT | #97 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Ashburnham-Westminster | Windsor Locks School District | Explorations District · Regional School District 07 |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | Oakmont Regional High School | Windsor Locks High School | Northwestern Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5 |
13.6Highest |
8.9Lowest |
9.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.