Compare towns
Washington vs Putnam vs Wheelock
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.7%).
Putnam has the highest household income ($92k).
Wheelock has the most people working from home (21.1%).
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 | Putnam | Wheelock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,056Highest |
540Lowest |
717 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.9±5.1 36% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
51±5.6Lowest 31% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Wheelock and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.4%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Putnam and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,103±$8k 18% below U.S. |
$92,344±$14kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$64,792±$20kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$37k 35% below U.S. |
$266,200±$48kHighest 20% below U.S. |
$189,600±$37kLowest 43% below U.S. |
| Putnam and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $996±$285 30% below U.S. |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,485 12% above U.S. |
$3,674Highest 18% above U.S. |
$2,937Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.5%±63.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Washington and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.1%±16Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wheelock and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.