Compare towns
Devens vs Derby 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
Devens has the highest household income ($189k).
Derby has the most affordable homes ($257k median).
Putnam has the most kids (18.6% under 18).
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 | Devens | Derby | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,723Lowest |
12,487Highest |
9,292 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 48.6±4.3Highest 25% above U.S. |
46.4±3.1 19% above U.S. |
43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Devens and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 5.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Putnam and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Derby and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Derby and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $189,250±$63kHighest 134% above U.S. |
$79,500±$11k about the U.S. average |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $556,800±$96kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$256,700±$21kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$269,200±$11k 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,500±$539Highest 6% above U.S. |
$1,452±$95 about the U.S. average |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Devens and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,556Highest 78% above U.S. |
$5,510 77% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.9%±12.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Devens and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 25.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
61.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Highest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.5%±11.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Devens 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 | — | #138 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Derby School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | — | Derby High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.7Highest |
9.5Lowest |
| 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.