Compare towns

Putnam vs Berlin 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).
Berlin has the most people working from home (29.1%).
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.

MeasurePutnamBerlinWinchester
People
Population
9,292
3,378Lowest
10,284Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+10.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
43.7±3Lowest
12% above U.S.
49.7±2.8Highest
28% above U.S.
49.1±6.2
26% above U.S.
Berlin 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%
13.4%±4.5Lowest
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%
30.1%±5.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
27.4%±5.1
U.S.: 17.2%
Berlin and Winchester 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%
48.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
27.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.3%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
Berlin and Winchester 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.
$121,336±$12kHighest
50% above U.S.
$66,519±$12kLowest
18% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$269,200±$11k
19% below U.S.
$616,600±$55kHighest
85% above U.S.
$249,500±$17kLowest
25% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,149±$44Lowest
19% below U.S.
$2,420±$933Highest
71% above U.S.
$1,174±$116
17% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,860Lowest
24% above U.S.
$7,116Highest
128% above U.S.
$4,780
53% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
37.7%±11.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.6%±19.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.9%±15.8
U.S.: 51.1%
Berlin 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%
5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
59.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
77.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
65.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1961
19 yrs older than U.S.
1992Highest
12 yrs newer than U.S.
1955Lowest
25 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
6% below U.S.
34 minHighest
29% above U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
9%±2.8
U.S.: 15.1%
29.1%±6.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.9%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #128 of 149 in CT #61 of 282 in MA #97 of 149 in CT
School district Putnam School District Berlin-Boylston 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.