Compare towns

Winsted vs 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

Winsted has the most affordable homes ($219k median).
Windsor Locks has the most homeowners (77.1%).
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.

MeasureWinstedWindsor LocksDerbyPutnam
People
Population
6,977Lowest
12,579Highest
12,487
9,292
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-6.7%Lowest
CT: +0.9%
—
-4.5%Highest
CT: +0.9%
—
Median age
47.6±7.3Highest
16% above CT
41.4±2.6Lowest
about the CT average
46.4±3.1
13% above CT
43.7±3
6% above CT
Winsted and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
14.4%±3.3Lowest
CT: 20.2%
18.6%±3.4Highest
CT: 20.2%
14.6%±2.9
CT: 20.2%
18.6%±3.6Highest
CT: 20.2%
Age 65+
25%±4.2Highest
CT: 18.5%
18.2%±2.7Lowest
CT: 18.5%
21.1%±3.9
CT: 18.5%
18.5%±3.1
CT: 18.5%
Winsted and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
26.8%
CT: 42.5%
28.6%
CT: 42.5%
35.6%Highest
CT: 42.5%
20%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.9%±2.4
CT: 7.1%
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
$64,871±$12kLowest
32% below CT
$81,205±$13kHighest
15% below CT
$79,500±$11k
17% below CT
$70,561±$7k
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
$218,900±$14kLowest
40% below CT
$258,800±$14k
29% below CT
$256,700±$21k
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
$1,183±$130
20% below CT
$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
$3,754
43% below CT
$3,688Lowest
44% below CT
$5,510Highest
17% below CT
$3,860
42% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
45.5%±16.7
CT: 52.6%
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
15.9%Highest
CT: 10%
10.9%
CT: 10%
10.8%Lowest
CT: 10%
11.5%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
54.7%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
77.1%Highest
CT: 66.5%
61.9%
CT: 66.5%
59.8%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1942Lowest
25 yrs older than CT
1961
6 yrs older than CT
1967Highest
same as CT
1961
6 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
5% below CT
22 minLowest
17% below CT
27 minHighest
about the CT average
25 min
6% below CT
Work from home
7.7%±3.5Lowest
CT: 16%
17.7%±3.7Highest
CT: 16%
15.1%±4.8
CT: 16%
9%±2.8
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 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.