Compare towns
Webster vs Plainfield vs Putnam vs Clinton
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 most kids (19.6% under 18).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (73.6%).
Putnam has the oldest population (median age 43.7).
Clinton has the most people working from home (14.2%).
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 | Plainfield | Putnam | Clinton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,748Highest |
15,141 |
9,292Lowest |
15,563 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +13.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9 about the U.S. average |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S. |
38.6±2.7 about the U.S. average |
| Putnam and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
17.8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Webster and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Webster and Putnam 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% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
20% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Clinton 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. |
$76,993±$8k 5% below U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$89,781±$10kHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Clinton and Plainfield 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. |
$272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$387,300±$19kHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Clinton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,402±$76Highest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,999 28% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$4,654Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±6.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Webster and Clinton 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% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
54.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 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. |
30 min 13% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Clinton and Plainfield 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #246 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Plainfield School District | Putnam School District | Clinton |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | Plainfield High School | Putnam High School | Clinton Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
10.3 |
9.5Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| 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.