Compare towns
Windham vs Putnam vs Plainville
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 youngest population (median age 33.7).
Putnam has the most expensive homes ($269k median).
Plainville has the highest household income ($84k).
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 | Windham | Putnam | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,961Highest |
9,292Lowest |
17,551 |
| Median age | 33.7±1.9Lowest 18% below CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
44.3±1.5Highest 8% above CT |
| Plainville and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±2.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Windham and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Plainville and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.7% CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
30%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $55,736±$5kLowest 42% below CT |
$70,561±$7k 26% below CT |
$84,343±$7kHighest 12% below CT |
| Plainville and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $209,800±$9kLowest 43% below CT |
$269,200±$11kHighest 27% below CT |
$254,000±$14k 31% below CT |
| Putnam and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,107±$69Lowest 26% below CT |
$1,149±$44Highest 23% below CT |
$1,126±$147 24% below CT |
| Putnam and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,633 30% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$4,798Highest 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4 CT: 52.6% |
| Windham and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 20.7%Highest CT: 10% |
11.5% CT: 10% |
6.5%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 47.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
59.8% CT: 66.5% |
67.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 8% below CT |
25 minHighest 6% below CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
| Work from home | 6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
10.7%±2Highest CT: 16% |
| Plainville 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 | #143 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Putnam School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | Putnam High School | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
9.5Lowest |
11.4Highest |
| 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.