Compare towns
Sterling vs Webster 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
Sterling has the highest household income ($103k).
Webster has the most expensive homes ($362k median).
Putnam has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Sterling | Webster | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,629Lowest |
17,748Highest |
9,292 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
39.9±2.9 about the U.S. average |
43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 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+ | 18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Webster and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,695±$12kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$72,895±$6k 10% below U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $283,400±$17k 15% below U.S. |
$361,500±$12kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,228±$81Highest 13% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Webster and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,551Highest 46% above U.S. |
$3,999 28% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Webster and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sterling 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 | #119 of 149 in CT | #271 of 282 in MA | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sterling School District | Webster | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bartlett High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6Highest |
9.5Lowest |
| 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.