Compare towns
Webster vs Derby vs Putnam vs Whitman
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).
Whitman has the highest household income ($109k).
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 | Whitman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,748Highest |
12,487 |
9,292Lowest |
15,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.4% 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. |
40.4±1.8 4% 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% |
21.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Whitman 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% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest 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% |
31.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Derby and Webster 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. |
$79,500±$11k about the U.S. average |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$108,933±$14kHighest 35% above U.S. |
| 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. |
$472,700±$12kHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
$1,452±$95 about the U.S. average |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,771±$151Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,999 28% above U.S. |
$5,510 77% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$5,824Highest 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.9%±12.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±13.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whitman and Derby 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% |
7.9%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% |
71.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Highest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% 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% |
10.8%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Derby and Whitman 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 | #191 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Derby School District | Putnam School District | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | Derby High School | Putnam High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
9.7 |
9.5Lowest |
— |
| 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.