Compare towns

Putnam vs Ware vs Warren

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 oldest population (median age 43.7).
Ware has the most people working from home (16.6%).
Warren has the most expensive homes ($334k 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.

MeasurePutnamWareWarren
People
Population
9,292Highest
6,369
5,009Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+1.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.7±3Highest
12% above U.S.
39.8±6
about the U.S. average
38.7±7.3Lowest
about the U.S. average
Putnam and Ware 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%
23.3%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
20.8%±8
U.S.: 22%
Ware and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.5%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.4%±3.9
U.S.: 17.2%
14.6%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Putnam and Ware 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%
15.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
23.2%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%
2.9%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Putnam and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$70,561±$7kHighest
13% below U.S.
$45,158±$11kLowest
44% below U.S.
$66,082±$6k
18% below U.S.
Putnam and Warren 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.
$253,400±$31kLowest
24% below U.S.
$333,700±$35kHighest
about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,149±$44Highest
19% below U.S.
$1,039±$104
26% below U.S.
$890±$174Lowest
37% below U.S.
Putnam and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,860
24% above U.S.
$3,408Lowest
9% above U.S.
$4,530Highest
45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
37.7%±11.6
U.S.: 51.1%
64.5%±17.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
29.7%±18.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Ware 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%
14.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
59.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
57.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
64.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1961
19 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1975Highest
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
6% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
33 minHighest
25% above U.S.
Work from home
9%±2.8
U.S.: 15.1%
16.6%±5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
8.5%±5.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Ware and Putnam 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 #267 of 282 in MA #165 of 282 in MA
School district Putnam School District — Quaboag Regional
High school in town Putnam High School — Quaboag Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school
9.5Lowest
—
10.0Highest
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.