Compare towns
Winchester vs Andover vs Putnam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Winchester has the most affordable homes ($250k median).
Andover has the highest household income ($135k).
Putnam has the most kids (18.6% under 18).
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 | Winchester | Andover | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,284Highest |
3,152Lowest |
9,292 |
| Median age | 49.1±6.2 19% above CT |
51.2±5.4Highest 25% above CT |
43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
| Andover and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±4.4 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Putnam and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.4%±5.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.2%±5.1 CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Winchester and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.8% CT: 42.5% |
46.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
8.2%±4.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Andover and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,519±$12kLowest 31% below CT |
$134,632±$20kHighest 41% above CT |
$70,561±$7k 26% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $249,500±$17kLowest 32% below CT |
$376,500±$36kHighest about the CT average |
$269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$116Highest 21% below CT |
$1,166±$745 22% below CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
| Winchester and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,780 28% below CT |
$6,554Highest about the CT average |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.9%±15.8 CT: 52.6% |
60.8%±38.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Andover and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.8%Highest CT: 10% |
1.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.8% CT: 66.5% |
93.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 12 yrs older than CT |
1977Highest 10 yrs newer than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest about the CT average |
25 min 5% below CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 6.9%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
15.5%±5.4Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
| Andover 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 | #97 of 149 in CT | #43 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Explorations District · Regional School District 07 | Andover School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Northwestern Regional High School | None in town | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Highest |
— | 9.5Lowest |
| 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.