Compare towns
Putnam vs Sturbridge 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).
Sturbridge has the most people working from home (19.8%).
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 | Sturbridge | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,292Lowest |
9,960 |
17,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Sturbridge 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% |
20.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Sturbridge and Webster 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% |
19.8%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sturbridge 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% |
49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Webster and Sturbridge 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. |
$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S. |
$72,895±$6k 10% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$425,800±$18kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
$1,228±$81Highest 13% below U.S. |
| Webster and Sturbridge 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. |
$6,520Highest 109% above U.S. |
$3,999 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Webster and Sturbridge 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% |
3.7%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. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #128 of 149 in CT | #89 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Putnam School District | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Webster |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5 |
7.7Lowest |
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.