Compare towns
Windsor Locks vs Crystal Lake 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 Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Crystal Lake has the highest household income ($144k).
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 Locks | Crystal Lake | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,579Highest |
2,024Lowest |
9,292 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +10.6% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 41.4±2.6Lowest about the CT average |
48.9±7.6Highest 19% above CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
| Crystal Lake and Putnam 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% |
24.5%±7.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Crystal Lake and Windsor Locks 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% |
23.3%±5.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
| Crystal Lake and Putnam 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% |
45.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
6.3%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Crystal Lake 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 |
$143,882±$29kHighest 50% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $258,800±$14kLowest 29% below CT |
$361,800±$35kHighest about the CT average |
$269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,394±$187Highest 6% below CT |
— | $1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$7,146Highest 8% above CT |
$3,860 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
0%±93.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.9% CT: 10% |
1.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.1% CT: 66.5% |
91.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1977Highest 10 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below CT |
39 minHighest 47% above CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 17.7%±3.7Highest CT: 16% |
17.5%±10 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Windsor Locks and Crystal Lake 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 | — | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Windsor Locks School District | — | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Windsor Locks High School | — | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Lowest |
— | 9.5Highest |
| 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.