Compare towns
Sterling vs Windham vs Putnam vs Voluntown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sterling has the most people working from home (11.6%).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Voluntown has the most expensive homes ($356k median).
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 | Sterling | Windham | Putnam | Voluntown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,629 |
23,961Highest |
9,292 |
2,604Lowest |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
33.7±1.9Lowest 18% below CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
48.3±1.7Highest 18% above CT |
| Voluntown and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±2.4 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
14.3%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.6%±3 CT: 18.5% |
| Putnam and Voluntown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
22.7% CT: 42.5% |
20% CT: 42.5% |
26.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
3.4%±1.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,695±$12kHighest 7% above CT |
$55,736±$5kLowest 42% below CT |
$70,561±$7k 26% below CT |
$101,964±$25k 6% above CT |
| Sterling and Voluntown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
$209,800±$9kLowest 43% below CT |
$269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
$356,100±$16kHighest about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,107±$69Lowest 26% below CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
$1,166±$191Highest 22% below CT |
| Voluntown and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,551 31% below CT |
$4,633 30% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$4,955Highest 25% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
42.9%±24.3 CT: 52.6% |
| Windham and Voluntown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% CT: 10% |
20.7%Highest CT: 10% |
11.5% CT: 10% |
7.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% CT: 66.5% |
47.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
59.8% CT: 66.5% |
83.5%Highest 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 |
1983 16 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above CT |
24 minLowest 8% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
31 min 18% above CT |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
8.9%±5.4 CT: 16% |
| Sterling 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 | #119 of 149 in CT | #143 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #53 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sterling School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Putnam School District | Voluntown School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | Putnam High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Highest |
9.5Lowest |
— |
| 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.