Compare towns
Windsor Locks vs Middlefield vs Putnam vs Suffield
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).
Middlefield has the oldest population (median age 51.6).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Suffield has the highest household income ($119k).
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 | Middlefield | Putnam | Suffield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,579 |
4,243Lowest |
9,292 |
15,702Highest |
| Median age | 41.4±2.6Lowest about the CT average |
51.6±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
44.5±1.7 8% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
13.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2 CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
25.5%±7.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
18.4%±2.2 CT: 18.5% |
| Middlefield 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% |
41.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.4% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.7%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Middlefield 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 |
$99,837±$20k 4% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$119,472±$13kHighest 25% above CT |
| Suffield and Middlefield 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 |
$376,000±$27k about the CT average |
$269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
$407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
| Suffield and Middlefield 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 |
$3,501Highest 135% above CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,424±$141 4% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$6,853Highest 3% above CT |
$3,860 42% below CT |
$6,456 about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.2%±16.8 CT: 52.6% |
85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
| Middlefield 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% CT: 10% |
8.1% CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
4.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.1% CT: 66.5% |
86.5% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
26 minHighest 3% below CT |
| Work from home | 17.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
10.9%±4.1 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
| Suffield 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 | #65 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #57 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Windsor Locks School District | Regional School District 13 | Putnam School District | Suffield School District |
| High school in town | Windsor Locks High School | None in town | Putnam High School | Suffield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Lowest |
— | 9.5 |
10.9Highest |
| 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.