Compare towns

Putnam vs Windsor Locks vs Plainfield vs Putnam

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 oldest population (median age 43.7).
Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Putnam has the most renters (49.3% rent).

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.

MeasurePutnamWindsor LocksPlainfieldPutnam
People
Population
9,292
12,579
15,141Highest
7,120Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+0.9%Highest
CT: +0.9%
—
-2.1%Lowest
CT: +0.9%
Median age
43.7±3Highest
6% above CT
41.4±2.6
about the CT average
37±4.5Lowest
10% below CT
41.2±5.1
about the CT average
Putnam and Windsor Locks 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%
18.6%±3.4Lowest
CT: 20.2%
19.4%±2.6Highest
CT: 20.2%
18.9%±4.3
CT: 20.2%
Plainfield and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.5%±3.1Highest
CT: 18.5%
18.2%±2.7
CT: 18.5%
16.6%±2.4Lowest
CT: 18.5%
17%±3.7
CT: 18.5%
Putnam and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
20%
CT: 42.5%
28.6%Highest
CT: 42.5%
15%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
18.8%
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.4Lowest
CT: 7.1%
5.9%±1.8Highest
CT: 7.1%
5.6%±1.8
CT: 7.1%
4.2%±1.8
CT: 7.1%
Windsor Locks and Plainfield 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
$81,205±$13kHighest
15% below CT
$76,993±$8k
20% below CT
$65,511±$7kLowest
32% below CT
Windsor Locks and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$269,200±$11k
27% below CT
$258,800±$14k
29% below CT
$272,100±$16kHighest
26% below CT
$245,100±$13kLowest
33% below CT
Plainfield and Putnam 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
$1,394±$187Highest
6% below CT
$1,204±$70
19% below CT
$1,147±$43Lowest
23% below CT
Windsor Locks and Plainfield 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
$3,688
44% below CT
$4,209Highest
37% below CT
$3,564Lowest
46% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
37.7%±11.6Lowest
CT: 52.6%
58.2%±16.8Highest
CT: 52.6%
39.8%±9.5
CT: 52.6%
38.2%±12.1
CT: 52.6%
Windsor Locks and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.5%
CT: 10%
10.9%
CT: 10%
8.7%Lowest
CT: 10%
11.7%Highest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
59.8%
CT: 66.5%
77.1%Highest
CT: 66.5%
73.6%
CT: 66.5%
50.7%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1961
6 yrs older than CT
1961
6 yrs older than CT
1971Highest
4 yrs newer than CT
1956Lowest
11 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
6% below CT
22 minLowest
17% below CT
27 minHighest
about the CT average
25 min
5% below CT
Work from home
9%±2.8
CT: 16%
17.7%±3.7Highest
CT: 16%
10%±4
CT: 16%
6.7%±2.7Lowest
CT: 16%
Windsor Locks and Plainfield 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 #109 of 149 in CT #131 of 149 in CT #128 of 149 in CT
School district Putnam School District — Plainfield School District —
High school in town Putnam High School — Plainfield High School —
Students per teacherat that high school
9.5Lowest
—
10.3Highest
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.