Compare towns
Windsor Locks vs Ellington vs Putnam vs Thomaston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Ellington has the most expensive homes ($367k median).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Thomaston has the most homeowners (77.7%).
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 | Windsor Locks | Ellington | Putnam | Thomaston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,579 |
16,455Highest |
9,292 |
7,492Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% CT: +0.9% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 41.4±2.6 about the CT average |
40.9±2.4Lowest about the CT average |
43.7±3Highest 6% above CT |
41.5±7.7 about the CT average |
| Putnam and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
24%±3.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.5%±5.2 CT: 20.2% |
| Ellington and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.8%±2.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 18.5% |
| Ellington and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.6% CT: 42.5% |
51.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
34% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
6%±2.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
| Ellington and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,205±$13k 15% below CT |
$129,913±$17kHighest 36% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$103,218±$15k 8% above CT |
| Ellington and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $258,800±$14kLowest 29% below CT |
$366,900±$17kHighest about the CT average |
$269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
$282,600±$23k 23% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,394±$187 6% below CT |
$1,737±$212Highest 17% above CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
$1,037±$147Lowest 30% below CT |
| Ellington and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$6,751Highest about the CT average |
$3,860 42% below CT |
$5,915 11% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
45.5%±10.3 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
57.9%±22 CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.9% CT: 10% |
2.4% CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.1% CT: 66.5% |
72.2% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
77.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below CT |
31 minHighest 18% above CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 17.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
18.4%±3.9Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
7.6%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
| Ellington and Windsor Locks 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 | #109 of 149 in CT | #46 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #106 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Ellington School District | Putnam School District | Thomaston School District |
| High school in town | — | Ellington High School | Putnam High School | Thomaston High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3 |
9.5Lowest |
10.7Highest |
| 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.