Compare towns
Windsor Locks vs Norfolk 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).
Norfolk has the most expensive homes ($431k 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.
| Measure | Windsor Locks | Norfolk | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,579Highest |
1,723Lowest |
9,292 |
| Median age | 41.4±2.6Lowest about the CT average |
48.2±7.4Highest 17% above CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
| Norfolk 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% |
15.8%±4.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
28.8%±3.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.6% CT: 42.5% |
48.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
2.1%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Putnam 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 |
$91,548±$16kHighest 4% below CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
| Norfolk and Windsor Locks 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 |
$430,900±$54kHighest 17% above CT |
$269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,394±$187Highest 6% below CT |
$1,190±$116 20% below CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
| Windsor Locks and Norfolk 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 |
$6,065Highest 9% below CT |
$3,860 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
27.3%±17Lowest 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% |
7.5%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.1% CT: 66.5% |
81.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Highest 6 yrs older than CT |
1938Lowest 29 yrs older than CT |
1961Highest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below CT |
27 minHighest 3% above CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 17.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
23.3%±4.7Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Norfolk 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 | — | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Windsor Locks School District | Norfolk School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Windsor Locks High School | None in town | 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.