Compare towns

Putnam vs Ware 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 shortest commute (25 min average).
Ware has the most people working from home (12.3%).
Webster has the most expensive homes ($362k 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.

MeasurePutnamWareWebster
People
Population
9,292Lowest
10,048
17,748Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.7±3Highest
12% above U.S.
43.1±4.7
11% above U.S.
39.9±2.9Lowest
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%
19.6%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
Webster and Ware 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%
20.6%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.6%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
Ware 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%
24%
U.S.: 35.7%
25.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.4%±2.2
U.S.: 6.4%
5.8%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Webster 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±$7k
13% below U.S.
$67,475±$15kLowest
16% below U.S.
$72,895±$6kHighest
10% below U.S.
Webster and Putnam 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.
$361,500±$12kHighest
9% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,149±$44
19% below U.S.
$1,043±$109Lowest
26% below U.S.
$1,228±$81Highest
13% below U.S.
Webster and Putnam 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.
$4,237Highest
36% above U.S.
$3,999
28% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
37.7%±11.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
64.3%±16.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
45.7%±6.7
U.S.: 51.1%
Ware and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
12.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
59.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
72.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
59.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1961
19 yrs older than U.S.
1960Lowest
20 yrs older than U.S.
1962Highest
18 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
6% below U.S.
28 min
8% above U.S.
31 minHighest
16% above U.S.
Work from home
9%±2.8
U.S.: 15.1%
12.3%±3.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
8%±2.5Lowest
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 #271 of 282 in MA
School district Putnam School District Ware Webster
High school in town Putnam High School Ware Junior/Senior High School Bartlett High School
Students per teacherat that high school
9.5Lowest
11.1
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.