Compare towns
Northbridge vs Putnam vs Webster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Northbridge has the most people working from home (16.2%).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
Webster has the youngest population (median age 39.9).
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 | Northbridge | Putnam | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,458 |
9,292Lowest |
17,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Northbridge and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Northbridge and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Webster and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Webster and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,319±$19kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$72,895±$6k 10% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $448,600±$15kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,228±$81Highest 13% below U.S. |
| Webster and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,821Highest 55% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$3,999 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northbridge and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #226 of 282 in MA | #128 of 149 in CT | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Putnam School District | Webster |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | Putnam High School | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8 |
9.5Lowest |
11.6Highest |
| 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.