Compare towns
Putnam vs Ayer vs Winchester vs Derby
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 shortest commute (25 min average).
Ayer has the most expensive homes ($464k median).
Winchester has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
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 | Putnam | Ayer | Winchester | Derby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,292 |
8,645Lowest |
10,284 |
12,487Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
49.1±6.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
46.4±3.1 19% above U.S. |
| Winchester and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Winchester and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Derby and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,561±$7k 13% below U.S. |
$101,875±$15kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$66,519±$12kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$79,500±$11k about the U.S. average |
| Ayer and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $269,200±$11k 19% below U.S. |
$463,800±$29kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$249,500±$17kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$256,700±$21k 23% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
$1,174±$116 17% below U.S. |
$1,452±$95Highest about the U.S. average |
| Derby and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$5,057 62% above U.S. |
$4,780 53% above U.S. |
$5,510Highest 77% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±15.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.9%±12.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Derby and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
65.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
61.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #113 of 282 in MA | #97 of 149 in CT | #138 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Ayer Shirley School District | Explorations District · Regional School District 07 | Derby School District |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Northwestern Regional High School | Derby High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
11.5Highest |
9.7 |
9.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.