Compare towns
Putnam vs Becket vs Winchester
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 kids (18.6% under 18).
Becket has the most homeowners (98.2%).
Winchester has the most affordable homes ($250k 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.
| Measure | Putnam | Becket | Winchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,292 |
1,962Lowest |
10,284Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
49.6±4.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
49.1±6.2 26% above U.S. |
| Becket and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Putnam and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.3%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Winchester and Becket 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% |
45.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Winchester and Putnam 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. |
$80,417±$29kHighest about the U.S. average |
$66,519±$12kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Becket and Putnam 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. |
$361,000±$82kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$249,500±$17kLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Becket and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$2,107±$1kHighest 49% above U.S. |
$1,174±$116 17% below U.S. |
| Becket and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,860 24% above U.S. |
$3,047Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,780Highest 53% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±15.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Becket and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
65.8% 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. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Becket 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 | — | #97 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Central Berkshire | Explorations District · Regional School District 07 |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | None in town | Northwestern Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
— | 9.7Highest |
| 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.