Compare towns
Windsor vs Salem vs Putnam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windsor has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Salem has the most expensive homes ($404k median).
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 | Windsor | Salem | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 29,468Highest |
4,282Lowest |
9,292 |
| Median age | 43.7±1.9Highest 6% above CT |
40.9±5.4Lowest about the CT average |
43.7±3Highest 6% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±2.1 CT: 20.2% |
23.2%±5.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Salem and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20%±2Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±4.7 CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Windsor and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.2% CT: 42.5% |
50.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Windsor and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,725±$8k 9% above CT |
$123,245±$8kHighest 29% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $305,200±$11k 17% below CT |
$403,600±$33kHighest 10% above CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,681±$62Highest 13% above CT |
$1,440±$150 3% below CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,351 19% below CT |
$6,668Highest about the CT average |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±10.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
32.1%±26Lowest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.7% CT: 10% |
6.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4% CT: 66.5% |
86.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 19% below CT |
32 minHighest 19% above CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 16.1%±3.2 CT: 16% |
18%±9.6Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Salem and Windsor 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 | #117 of 149 in CT | #11 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Capitol Region Education Council · Windsor School District | Salem School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Windsor High School | None in town | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.2Highest |
— | 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.