Compare towns
Putnam vs Worcester vs Putnam
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 homeowners (59.8%).
Worcester has the most expensive homes ($374k median).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($245k 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.
| Measure | Putnam | Worcester | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,292 |
207,055Highest |
7,120Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +14.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S. |
33.9±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
41.2±5.1 6% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±0.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Worcester and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Putnam 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% |
35.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
14.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,561±$7kHighest 13% below U.S. |
$70,102±$2k 13% below U.S. |
$65,511±$7kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Putnam and Worcester 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. |
$374,400±$7kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$245,100±$13kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,487±$38Highest 5% above U.S. |
$1,147±$43Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,860 24% above U.S. |
$4,733Highest 52% above U.S. |
$3,564Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±2.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±12.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 11.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Highest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.7%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester 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 | #266 of 282 in MA | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | — |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | South High Community | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
14.6Highest |
— |
| 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.