Compare towns
Washington vs Windsor Locks vs Putnam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k median).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% 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.
| Measure | Washington | Windsor Locks | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,676Lowest |
12,579Highest |
9,292 |
| Median age | 49.9±5.5Highest 21% above CT |
41.4±2.6Lowest about the CT average |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
| Washington and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±4.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Washington and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
| Washington and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
28.6% CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.4%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Washington 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 | $101,549±$16kHighest 6% above CT |
$81,205±$13k 15% below CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
| Washington and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $660,200±$130kHighest 80% above CT |
$258,800±$14kLowest 29% below CT |
$269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$264 19% below CT |
$1,394±$187Highest 6% below CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
| Windsor Locks and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,709Highest 29% below CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$3,860 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.1%±24Lowest CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6 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 | 9%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.9% CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Highest CT: 66.5% |
77.1% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 4% below CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 20.1%±9Highest CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Washington 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 | #17 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 12 | Windsor Locks School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Shepaug Valley School | Windsor Locks High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.1 |
8.9Lowest |
9.5Highest |
| 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.