Compare towns
Putnam vs Webster vs Whitman vs Griswold
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).
Webster has the youngest population (median age 39.9).
Whitman has the highest household income ($109k).
Griswold has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
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 | Webster | Whitman | Griswold |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,292Lowest |
17,748Highest |
15,295 |
11,530 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
40.4±1.8 4% above U.S. |
48.1±3.9Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Griswold and Putnam 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% |
19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±3.7Lowest 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% |
17.8%±3.5 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest 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. |
$78,719±$11k about the U.S. average |
| 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. |
$275,900±$42k 17% below 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. |
$1,177±$65 17% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$3,999 28% above U.S. |
$5,824Highest 87% above U.S. |
$4,628 48% 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% |
57.5%±15.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whitman and Griswold 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.6%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% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 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. |
31 min 17% 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% |
9%±3.6 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 | #118 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Webster | Whitman-Hanson | Griswold School District |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | Bartlett High School | None in town | Griswold High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
11.6Highest |
— | 11.5 |
| 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.