Compare towns
Putnam vs Windham 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 expensive homes ($269k median).
Windham has the youngest population (median age 33.7).
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 | Windham | Chaplin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,292 |
23,961Highest |
2,070Lowest |
| Median age | 43.7±3Highest 6% above CT |
33.7±1.9Lowest 18% below CT |
43.7±4.8Highest 6% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±2.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Windham 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 CT: 18.5% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Chaplin 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% |
22.7% CT: 42.5% |
25.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2 CT: 7.1% |
| Windham and Chaplin 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 |
$55,736±$5kLowest 42% below CT |
$97,846±$14kHighest about the CT average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $269,200±$11kHighest 27% below CT |
$209,800±$9kLowest 43% 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±$44 23% below CT |
$1,107±$69Lowest 26% below CT |
$1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$4,633Highest 30% below CT |
$4,524 32% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Windham 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% |
20.7%Highest CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% CT: 66.5% |
47.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
82.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below CT |
24 minLowest 8% below CT |
32 minHighest 22% above CT |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest 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 | #143 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Putnam School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | Windham High School | Parish Hill High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5 |
9.8Highest |
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.