Compare towns
Putnam vs Sterling vs Westminster
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 (40.2% rent).
Sterling has the youngest population (median age 39.4).
Westminster has the most expensive homes ($422k 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 | Sterling | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,292Highest |
3,629Lowest |
8,374 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +12.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
48.3±4.6Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Westminster and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and Westminster 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% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20% U.S.: 35.7% |
18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Putnam and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$102,695±$12k 27% above U.S. |
$106,331±$22kHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Westminster and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$283,400±$17k 15% below U.S. |
$422,000±$36kHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
— | $1,843±$268Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$4,551 46% above U.S. |
$4,973Highest 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60%±27.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Westminster and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Westminster and Sterling 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 | #119 of 149 in CT | #112 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Putnam School District | Sterling School District | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | None in town | Oakmont Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
— | 13.6Highest |
| 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.