Compare towns
Putnam vs Sterling vs Webster
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 affordable homes ($269k median).
Sterling has the most people working from home (18.3%).
Webster has the youngest population (median age 39.9).
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 | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,292 |
8,183Lowest |
17,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
51.5±1.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Webster and Putnam 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% |
22.9%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sterling and Webster 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% |
25.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Webster 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. |
$129,063±$27kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$72,895±$6k 10% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$498,800±$48kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,699±$161Highest 20% above U.S. |
$1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$6,757Highest 117% above U.S. |
$3,999 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sterling and Webster 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #128 of 149 in CT | #135 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Putnam School District | Wachusett | Webster |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | None in town | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
— | 11.6Highest |
| 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.