Compare towns
Putnam vs Winchester vs Chaplin
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 kids (18.6% under 18).
Winchester has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
Chaplin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
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.
| Measure | Putnam | Winchester | Chaplin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,292 |
10,284Highest |
2,070Lowest |
| Median age | 43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
49.1±6.2Highest 19% above CT |
43.7±4.8Lowest 6% above CT |
| Winchester and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.4%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2 CT: 20.2% |
| Putnam and Chaplin 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% |
27.4%±5.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Winchester and Chaplin 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% |
27.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
25.4% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin 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 26% below CT |
$66,519±$12kLowest 31% below CT |
$97,846±$14kHighest about the CT average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $269,200±$11kHighest 27% below CT |
$249,500±$17kLowest 32% below CT |
$255,200±$24k 30% below CT |
| Putnam and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,174±$116 21% below CT |
$1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
| Chaplin and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$4,780Highest 28% below CT |
$4,524 32% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
48.9%±15.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Winchester and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.5% CT: 10% |
12.8%Highest CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
65.8% CT: 66.5% |
82.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1955Lowest 12 yrs older than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below CT |
26 min about the CT average |
32 minHighest 22% above CT |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
6.9%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
18.1%±10Highest CT: 16% |
| Chaplin 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 | #97 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Putnam School District | Explorations District · Regional School District 07 | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | Northwestern Regional High School | Parish Hill High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5 |
9.7Highest |
7.5Lowest |
| 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.