Compare towns
Webster vs Putnam vs Brooklyn 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).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Brooklyn has the most people working from home (10.7%).
Dudley has the most expensive homes ($393k 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 | Putnam | Brooklyn | Dudley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,748Highest |
7,120Lowest |
8,517 |
11,929 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.2±5.1 6% above U.S. |
45.6±2.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
40.2±2.4 3% above U.S. |
| Brooklyn 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% |
18.9%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Webster and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,895±$6k 10% below U.S. |
$65,511±$7kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$96,207±$15kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$84,604±$12k 5% above U.S. |
| Brooklyn and Dudley 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. |
$245,100±$13kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$315,200±$28k 5% below U.S. |
$392,600±$19kHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81Highest 13% below U.S. |
$1,147±$43 19% below U.S. |
$1,125±$98Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,217±$182 14% below U.S. |
| Webster and Dudley 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. |
$3,564Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$4,538Highest 45% above U.S. |
$3,691 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±12.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.5%±19.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dudley and Webster 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% |
11.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.7%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.1%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brooklyn 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #113 of 149 in CT | #142 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | — | Brooklyn School District | Dudley-Charlton Reg |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | — | None in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Lowest |
— | — | 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.