Compare towns
Warren vs Putnam vs West Brookfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Warren has the most kids (20.8% under 18).
Putnam has the shortest commute (25 min average).
West Brookfield has the most people working from home (18.9%).
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 | Warren | Putnam | West Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,009 |
9,292Highest |
3,859Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.7±7.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
58.5±3.2Highest 50% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±8Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Warren and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.6%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
35.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Putnam and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,082±$6kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$70,561±$7k 13% below U.S. |
$95,613±$12kHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $333,700±$35k about the U.S. average |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$354,000±$21kHighest 6% above U.S. |
| West Brookfield and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $890±$174Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,236±$271Highest 13% below U.S. |
| West Brookfield and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,530Highest 45% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$4,260 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.7%±18.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.3%±18.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putnam and West Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
42 minHighest 58% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.5%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±15Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| West Brookfield 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 | #165 of 282 in MA | #128 of 149 in CT | #162 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quaboag Regional | Putnam School District | Quaboag Regional |
| High school in town | Quaboag Regional High | Putnam High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0Highest |
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.