Compare towns
Putnam vs Windsor Locks vs Union vs Plainville
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%).
Union has the most expensive homes ($330k median).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Windsor Locks | Union | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,292 |
12,579 |
944Lowest |
17,551Highest |
| Median age | 43.7±3 6% above CT |
41.4±2.6Lowest about the CT average |
49.9±4.3Highest 21% above CT |
44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
| Union and Plainville 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% |
16.9%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±2.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
| Union and Plainville 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% |
28.6% CT: 42.5% |
24% CT: 42.5% |
30%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Plainville and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$81,205±$13k 15% below CT |
$88,958±$14kHighest 7% below CT |
$84,343±$7k 12% below CT |
| Union and Plainville 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 |
$330,400±$26kHighest 10% below CT |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44 23% below CT |
$1,394±$187Highest 6% below CT |
— | $1,126±$147Lowest 24% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,860 42% below CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$4,793 28% below CT |
$4,798Highest 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8 CT: 52.6% |
90%±64.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4 CT: 52.6% |
| Union and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
10.9% CT: 10% |
5.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
6.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
77.1% CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
67.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below CT |
22 min 17% below CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7Highest CT: 16% |
9%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
10.7%±2 CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #128 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | — | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Windsor Locks School District | Union School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | Windsor Locks High School | None in town | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5 |
8.9Lowest |
— | 11.4Highest |
| 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.