Compare towns
Webster vs Ashby 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
Webster has the youngest population (median age 39.9).
Ashby has the most people working from home (17.8%).
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 | Webster | Ashby | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,748Highest |
3,211Lowest |
9,292 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Webster and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ashby and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2Lowest 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 | $72,895±$6k 10% below U.S. |
$115,598±$9kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
$390,500±$30kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Ashby and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81Highest 13% below U.S. |
$1,200±$484 15% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Webster and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,999 28% above U.S. |
$6,034Highest 93% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest 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 | 12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Highest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #271 of 282 in MA | #200 of 282 in MA | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Webster | North Middlesex | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | None in town | 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.