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 shortest commute (25 min average).
Ware has the most people working from home (12.3%).
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
9,292
10,048Highest
5,009Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.7±3Highest
12% above U.S.
43.1±4.7
11% above U.S.
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%
19.1%±3.5
U.S.: 22%
20.8%±8Highest
U.S.: 22%
Warren and Ware 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%
20.6%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
14.6%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Ware 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%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
24%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
23.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
4.4%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Ware and Putnam 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.
$67,475±$15k
16% below U.S.
$66,082±$6kLowest
18% below U.S.
Putnam and Ware 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.
$289,700±$28k
13% below U.S.
$333,700±$35kHighest
about the U.S. average
Warren and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,149±$44Highest
19% below U.S.
$1,043±$109
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
$3,860Lowest
24% above U.S.
$4,237
36% above U.S.
$4,530Highest
45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
37.7%±11.6
U.S.: 51.1%
64.3%±16.2Highest
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%
11.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
59.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
72.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
64.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1961
19 yrs older than U.S.
1960Lowest
20 yrs older than U.S.
1975Highest
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
6% below U.S.
28 min
8% above U.S.
33 minHighest
25% above U.S.
Work from home
9%±2.8
U.S.: 15.1%
12.3%±3.8Highest
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 Ware Quaboag Regional
High school in town Putnam High School Ware Junior/Senior High School Quaboag Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school
9.5Lowest
11.1Highest
10.0
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.