Compare towns
Willington vs Windham vs Ellington vs Putnam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Ellington has the most people working from home (18.4%).
Putnam has the oldest population (median age 43.7).
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 | Willington | Windham | Ellington | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,575Lowest |
23,961Highest |
16,455 |
9,292 |
| Median age | 37.5±7.2 9% below CT |
33.7±1.9Lowest 18% below CT |
40.9±2.4 about the CT average |
43.7±3Highest 6% above CT |
| Putnam and Ellington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±4.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±2.4 CT: 20.2% |
24%±3.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Ellington and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±6.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.8%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
| Willington and Ellington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.2% CT: 42.5% |
22.7% CT: 42.5% |
51.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.6%±6.8 CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
6%±2.2 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Windham and Willington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,114±$12k 5% below CT |
$55,736±$5kLowest 42% below CT |
$129,913±$17kHighest 36% above CT |
$70,561±$7k 26% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $305,800±$48k 17% below CT |
$209,800±$9kLowest 43% below CT |
$366,900±$17kHighest about the CT average |
$269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
| Ellington and Willington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,357±$116 9% below CT |
$1,107±$69Lowest 26% below CT |
$1,737±$212Highest 17% above CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,419 18% below CT |
$4,633 30% below CT |
$6,751Highest about the CT average |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 70%±20.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
45.5%±10.3 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Willington and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13% CT: 10% |
20.7%Highest CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64% CT: 66.5% |
47.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
72.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the CT average |
24 minLowest 8% below CT |
31 minHighest 18% above CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 10.5%±4.7 CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
18.4%±3.9Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
| Ellington and Willington 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 | #104 of 149 in CT | #143 of 149 in CT | #46 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Willington School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Ellington School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | Ellington High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
10.3Highest |
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.