Compare towns

Putnam vs Webster vs Whitman

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).
Webster has the youngest population (median age 39.9).
Whitman has the highest household income ($109k).

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.

MeasurePutnamWebsterWhitman
People
Population
9,292Lowest
17,748Highest
15,295
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.7±3Highest
12% above U.S.
39.9±2.9Lowest
about the U.S. average
40.4±1.8
4% above U.S.
Putnam and Whitman 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%
19.6%±2.9
U.S.: 22%
21.1%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
Whitman and Webster 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%
19.6%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.5%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Webster 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%
25.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
31.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.8%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
Webster and Whitman 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.
$72,895±$6k
10% below U.S.
$108,933±$14kHighest
35% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$269,200±$11kLowest
19% below U.S.
$361,500±$12k
9% above U.S.
$472,700±$12kHighest
42% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,149±$44Lowest
19% below U.S.
$1,228±$81
13% below U.S.
$1,771±$151Highest
25% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,860Lowest
24% above U.S.
$3,999
28% above U.S.
$5,824Highest
87% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
37.7%±11.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
45.7%±6.7
U.S.: 51.1%
61.9%±13.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Whitman and Webster 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%
12.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
59.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
59.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1961
19 yrs older than U.S.
1962Highest
18 yrs older than U.S.
1957Lowest
23 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
6% below U.S.
31 min
16% above U.S.
36 minHighest
37% above U.S.
Work from home
9%±2.8
U.S.: 15.1%
8%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.8%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Whitman 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 #271 of 282 in MA #191 of 282 in MA
School district Putnam School District Webster Whitman-Hanson
High school in town Putnam High School Bartlett High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
9.5Lowest
11.6Highest
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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.