Compare towns
Windsor Locks vs Derby 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 most homeowners (77.1%).
Derby has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
Putnam has the most expensive homes ($269k median).
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 | Derby | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,579Highest |
12,487 |
9,292Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -4.5% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 41.4±2.6Lowest about the CT average |
46.4±3.1Highest 13% above CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
| Derby and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
21.1%±3.9Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
| Derby 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% |
35.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,205±$13kHighest 15% below CT |
$79,500±$11k 17% below CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
| Windsor Locks and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $258,800±$14k 29% below CT |
$256,700±$21kLowest 30% below CT |
$269,200±$11kHighest 27% below CT |
| Putnam and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,394±$187 6% below CT |
$1,452±$95Highest about the CT average |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
| Derby 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 |
$5,510Highest 17% below CT |
$3,860 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
53.9%±12.6 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.9% CT: 10% |
10.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
61.9% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1967Highest same as CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
25 min 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 17.7%±3.7Highest CT: 16% |
15.1%±4.8 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Windsor Locks and Derby 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 | #138 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Windsor Locks School District | Derby School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Windsor Locks High School | Derby High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Lowest |
9.7Highest |
9.5 |
| 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.