Compare towns
Putnam vs Sheffield 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).
Sheffield has the most expensive homes ($409k median).
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 | Sheffield | Winchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,292 |
3,330Lowest |
10,284Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
48.2±8 24% above U.S. |
49.1±6.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Winchester and Sheffield 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% |
13.3%±4Lowest 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% |
23.2%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Winchester and Sheffield 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% |
37.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,561±$7k 13% below U.S. |
$92,120±$31kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$66,519±$12kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Sheffield 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. |
$409,400±$32kHighest 23% above U.S. |
$249,500±$17kLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,837±$1kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$1,174±$116 17% below U.S. |
| Sheffield and Winchester 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. |
$4,520 45% above U.S. |
$4,780Highest 53% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±21.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±15.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Winchester and Putnam 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% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
65.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Putnam and Sheffield 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 | #250 of 282 in MA | #97 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Southern Berkshire | Explorations District · Regional School District 07 |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | Mt Everett Regional | Northwestern Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5 |
7.8Lowest |
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.