Compare towns
Putnam vs Ware vs Winchester vs Derby
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 homeowners (72.3%).
Winchester has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
Derby has the most people working from home (15.1%).
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 | Ware | Winchester | Derby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,292Lowest |
10,048 |
10,284 |
12,487Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
49.1±6.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
46.4±3.1 19% above U.S. |
| Winchester and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ware 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% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Winchester and Derby 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% |
27.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.6%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% |
4.2%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Derby 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±$15k 16% below U.S. |
$66,519±$12kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$79,500±$11kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Derby 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±$11k 19% below U.S. |
$289,700±$28kHighest 13% below U.S. |
$249,500±$17kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$256,700±$21k 23% below U.S. |
| Ware and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,174±$116 17% below U.S. |
$1,452±$95Highest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
$4,780 53% above U.S. |
$5,510Highest 77% 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% |
48.9%±15.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.9%±12.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Derby 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
65.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
61.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Highest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Derby and Ware 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 | #97 of 149 in CT | #138 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Ware | Explorations District · Regional School District 07 | Derby School District |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Northwestern Regional High School | Derby High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
11.1Highest |
9.7 |
9.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.