Compare towns
Putnam vs Winchester vs Winsted
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 most homeowners (65.8%).
Winsted has the most affordable homes ($219k 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 | Winchester | Winsted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,292 |
10,284Highest |
6,977Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -6.7% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
49.1±6.2Highest 19% above CT |
47.6±7.3 16% above CT |
| Winchester and Winsted 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%±2.9 CT: 20.2% |
14.4%±3.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Putnam and Winchester 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% |
25%±4.2 CT: 18.5% |
| Winchester and Winsted 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% |
26.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Winsted 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±$7kHighest 26% below CT |
$66,519±$12k 31% below CT |
$64,871±$12kLowest 32% below CT |
| Putnam and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $269,200±$11kHighest 27% below CT |
$249,500±$17k 32% below CT |
$218,900±$14kLowest 40% below CT |
| Putnam and Winchester 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 |
$1,183±$130Highest 20% below CT |
| Winsted and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,860 42% below CT |
$4,780Highest 28% below CT |
$3,754Lowest 43% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
48.9%±15.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
45.5%±16.7 CT: 52.6% |
| Winchester and Winsted are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.5%Lowest CT: 10% |
12.8% CT: 10% |
15.9%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% CT: 66.5% |
65.8%Highest CT: 66.5% |
54.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Highest 6 yrs older than CT |
1955 12 yrs older than CT |
1942Lowest 25 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below CT |
26 minHighest about the CT average |
25 min 5% below CT |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8Highest CT: 16% |
6.9%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
7.7%±3.5 CT: 16% |
| Putnam and Winsted 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 | — |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | Northwestern Regional High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
9.7Highest |
— |
| 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.

