Compare towns
Salem vs Putnam vs Windsor Locks
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salem has the most expensive homes ($404k median).
Putnam has the most renters (49.3% rent).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 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 | Salem | Putnam | Windsor Locks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,282Lowest |
7,120 |
12,579Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.1% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 40.9±5.4Lowest about the CT average |
41.2±5.1 about the CT average |
41.4±2.6Highest about the CT average |
| Windsor Locks and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±5.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.9%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Salem and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
17%±3.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Salem 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+ | 50.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
18.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
28.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $123,245±$8kHighest 29% above CT |
$65,511±$7kLowest 32% below CT |
$81,205±$13k 15% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $403,600±$33kHighest 10% above CT |
$245,100±$13kLowest 33% below CT |
$258,800±$14k 29% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,440±$150Highest 3% below CT |
$1,147±$43Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,394±$187 6% below CT |
| Salem and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,668Highest about the CT average |
$3,564Lowest 46% below CT |
$3,688 44% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±26Lowest CT: 52.6% |
38.2%±12.1 CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.7%Highest CT: 10% |
10.9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
50.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
77.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 19% above CT |
25 min 5% below CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
| Work from home | 18%±9.6Highest CT: 16% |
6.7%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
| Salem and Windsor Locks 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 | #11 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Salem School District | — | Windsor Locks School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Windsor Locks High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.9 |
| 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.