Compare towns
Windham vs Sterling 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).
Sterling has the highest household income ($103k).
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 | Windham | Sterling | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,961Highest |
3,629Lowest |
9,292 |
| Median age | 33.7±1.9Lowest 18% below CT |
39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
43.7±3Highest 6% above CT |
| Putnam and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±2.4 CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest 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+ | 14.3%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Putnam and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
20% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $55,736±$5kLowest 42% below CT |
$102,695±$12kHighest 7% above CT |
$70,561±$7k 26% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $209,800±$9kLowest 43% below CT |
$283,400±$17kHighest 23% below CT |
$269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
| Sterling and Putnam 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 |
| Putnam and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,633Highest 30% below CT |
$4,551 31% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
| Windham and Putnam 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% |
8.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 47.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
81.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8 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 | #143 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Sterling School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | None in town | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Highest |
— | 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.