Compare towns
Webster vs Derby vs Putnam vs Dudley
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).
Derby has the most people working from home (15.1%).
Putnam has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Dudley has the most homeowners (73.1%).
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 | Webster | Derby | Putnam | Dudley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,748Highest |
12,487 |
9,292Lowest |
11,929 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
46.4±3.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
40.2±2.4 3% above U.S. |
| Derby and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dudley and Webster 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% |
21.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Derby 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% |
35.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,895±$6k 10% below U.S. |
$79,500±$11k about the U.S. average |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$84,604±$12kHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Dudley and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
$256,700±$21kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$269,200±$11k 19% below U.S. |
$392,600±$19kHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
$1,452±$95Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,217±$182 14% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,999 28% above U.S. |
$5,510Highest 77% above U.S. |
$3,860 24% above U.S. |
$3,691Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.9%±12.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±4.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Derby and Dudley 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% |
10.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
61.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Highest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Highest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.1%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Derby and Dudley 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #138 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #142 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Derby School District | Putnam School District | Dudley-Charlton Reg |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | Derby High School | Putnam High School | Shepherd Hill Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
9.7 |
9.5Lowest |
14.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.