Compare towns

Putnam vs Wilbraham 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

Putnam has the most renters (49.3% rent).
Wilbraham has the highest household income ($122k).
Putnam has the shortest commute (25 min average).

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.

MeasurePutnamWilbrahamPutnam
People
Population
7,120Lowest
14,572Highest
9,292
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
41.2±5.1Lowest
6% above U.S.
44.3±2.7Highest
14% above U.S.
43.7±3
12% above U.S.
Wilbraham and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.9%±4.3
U.S.: 22%
23.2%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Wilbraham and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
23%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.5%±3.1
U.S.: 17.2%
Wilbraham and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
18.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
51.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
20%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.2%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
5.2%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Wilbraham and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$65,511±$7kLowest
19% below U.S.
$122,051±$14kHighest
51% above U.S.
$70,561±$7k
13% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$245,100±$13kLowest
26% below U.S.
$416,000±$25kHighest
25% above U.S.
$269,200±$11k
19% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,147±$43Lowest
19% below U.S.
$1,175±$241Highest
17% below U.S.
$1,149±$44
19% below U.S.
Wilbraham and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,564Lowest
14% above U.S.
$6,658Highest
113% above U.S.
$3,860
24% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.2%±12.1
U.S.: 51.1%
53.1%±23.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
37.7%±11.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Wilbraham and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
50.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
88.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
59.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
1966Highest
14 yrs older than U.S.
1961
19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
5% below U.S.
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
25 minLowest
6% below U.S.
Work from home
6.7%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.9%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
9%±2.8
U.S.: 15.1%
Wilbraham and Putnam 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 #128 of 149 in CT #88 of 282 in MA #128 of 149 in CT
School district — Hampden-Wilbraham Putnam School District
High school in town — Minnechaug Regional High Putnam High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
14.2Highest
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.