Compare towns

Putnam vs Windsor Locks vs Winchester

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 renters (40.2% rent).
Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Winchester has the oldest population (median age 49.1).

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.

MeasurePutnamWindsor LocksWinchester
People
Population
9,292Lowest
12,579Highest
10,284
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+0.9%
CT: +0.9%
—
Median age
43.7±3
6% above CT
41.4±2.6Lowest
about the CT average
49.1±6.2Highest
19% 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%
18.6%±3.4Highest
CT: 20.2%
15.4%±2.9Lowest
CT: 20.2%
Age 65+
18.5%±3.1
CT: 18.5%
18.2%±2.7Lowest
CT: 18.5%
27.4%±5.1Highest
CT: 18.5%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
20%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
28.6%Highest
CT: 42.5%
27.8%
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.4Lowest
CT: 7.1%
5.9%±1.8Highest
CT: 7.1%
4.2%±1.7
CT: 7.1%
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
26% below CT
$81,205±$13kHighest
15% below CT
$66,519±$12kLowest
31% below CT
Windsor Locks and Putnam 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
$258,800±$14k
29% below CT
$249,500±$17kLowest
32% below CT
Putnam and Windsor Locks 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
$1,394±$187Highest
6% below CT
$1,174±$116
21% below CT
Windsor Locks 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
$3,688Lowest
44% below CT
$4,780Highest
28% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
37.7%±11.6Lowest
CT: 52.6%
58.2%±16.8Highest
CT: 52.6%
48.9%±15.8
CT: 52.6%
Windsor Locks and Winchester 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%Lowest
CT: 10%
12.8%Highest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
59.8%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
77.1%Highest
CT: 66.5%
65.8%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1961Highest
6 yrs older than CT
1961Highest
6 yrs older than CT
1955Lowest
12 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
6% below CT
22 minLowest
17% below CT
26 minHighest
about the CT average
Work from home
9%±2.8
CT: 16%
17.7%±3.7Highest
CT: 16%
6.9%±2.7Lowest
CT: 16%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #128 of 149 in CT #109 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.