Compare towns
Washington vs Westminster 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
Washington has the most people working from home (20.1%).
Westminster has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k 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 | Washington | Westminster | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,676Lowest |
8,374 |
9,292Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +12.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 49.9±5.5Highest 28% above U.S. |
48.3±4.6 24% above U.S. |
43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Washington and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Westminster and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Washington and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Washington and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,549±$16k 26% above U.S. |
$106,331±$22kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Westminster and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $660,200±$130kHighest 98% above U.S. |
$422,000±$36k 27% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$264 15% below U.S. |
$1,843±$268Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,709 51% above U.S. |
$4,973Highest 59% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.1%±24Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60%±27.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Westminster and Putnam 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% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.1%±9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Washington and Westminster 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 | #17 of 149 in CT | #112 of 282 in MA | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 12 | Ashburnham-Westminster | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Shepaug Valley School | Oakmont Regional High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.1Lowest |
13.6Highest |
9.5 |
| 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.