Compare towns
Quinebaug vs Ware vs Putnam vs Colebrook
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Quinebaug has the most people working from home (23.3%).
Ware has the most kids (19.1% under 18).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Colebrook has the most expensive homes ($343k 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 | Quinebaug | Ware | Putnam | Colebrook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,193Lowest |
10,048Highest |
9,292 |
1,494 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 56.5±1Highest 45% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
52.1±5 34% above U.S. |
| Quinebaug and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 0%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
17.9%±3.9 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+ | 29.1%±9.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Quinebaug and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 10.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
20% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Colebrook and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $105,181±$36k 30% above U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$70,561±$7k 13% below U.S. |
$111,250±$17kHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Colebrook and Quinebaug are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $237,800±$66kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
$269,200±$11k 19% below U.S. |
$342,800±$19kHighest 3% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,333±$626Highest 6% below U.S. |
| Colebrook and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,703Lowest 19% above U.S. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
$3,860 24% above U.S. |
$6,211Highest 99% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±55 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Highest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.3%±17.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Quinebaug 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 | — | #267 of 282 in MA | #128 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | — | Ware | Putnam School District | Colebrook School District |
| High school in town | — | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Putnam High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
9.5Lowest |
— |
| 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.