Compare towns

Windsor Locks vs Harvard vs Putnam vs Thomaston

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Harvard has the most expensive homes ($834k 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.

MeasureWindsor LocksHarvardPutnamThomaston
People
Population
12,579Highest
6,927Lowest
9,292
7,492
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+5.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
— —
Median age
41.4±2.6Lowest
6% above U.S.
44.1±4.7Highest
13% above U.S.
43.7±3
12% above U.S.
41.5±7.7
7% above U.S.
Harvard 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
U.S.: 22%
21.1%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.5%±5.2
U.S.: 22%
Harvard and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.2%±2.7
U.S.: 17.2%
16.3%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.5%±3.1
U.S.: 17.2%
18.6%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Thomaston 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
62%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
20%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
34%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.9%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
5.5%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
Windsor Locks and Thomaston 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
about the U.S. average
$213,996±$24kHighest
165% above U.S.
$70,561±$7kLowest
13% below U.S.
$103,218±$15k
28% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$258,800±$14kLowest
22% below U.S.
$833,600±$54kHighest
151% above U.S.
$269,200±$11k
19% below U.S.
$282,600±$23k
15% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,394±$187Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,321±$424
7% below U.S.
$1,149±$44
19% below U.S.
$1,037±$147Lowest
27% below U.S.
Windsor Locks and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,688Lowest
18% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$3,860
24% above U.S.
$5,915
90% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
58.2%±16.8
U.S.: 51.1%
72.5%±51.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
37.7%±11.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
57.9%±22
U.S.: 51.1%
Harvard and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
10.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
77.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
89.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
59.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
77.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
1975Highest
5 yrs older than U.S.
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
32 minHighest
20% above U.S.
25 min
6% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
17.7%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
44.8%±6.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
9%±2.8
U.S.: 15.1%
7.6%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #109 of 149 in CT #12 of 282 in MA #128 of 149 in CT #106 of 149 in CT
School district Windsor Locks School District Harvard Putnam School District Thomaston School District
High school in town Windsor Locks High School The Bromfield High School Putnam High School Thomaston High School
Students per teacherat that high school
8.9Lowest
11.0Highest
9.5
10.7
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 12 photos → None yet None yet

U.S. 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.