Compare towns
Windsor Locks vs Shirley vs Putnam
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).
Shirley has the most expensive homes ($428k 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 | Shirley | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,579Highest |
6,976Lowest |
9,292 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
44.3±3.4Highest 14% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
| Shirley 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 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Shirley 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% |
36.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks and Shirley 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 |
$122,365±$16kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$427,600±$36kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11k 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,481±$421Highest 5% above U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Shirley 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 18% above U.S. |
$5,156Highest 65% above U.S. |
$3,860 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±21.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Shirley 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% |
9.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±7.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Shirley 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 | #239 of 282 in MA | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Windsor Locks School District | Ayer Shirley 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 |
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.