Compare towns
Webster vs Putnam vs Clinton vs Gardner
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).
Putnam has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Clinton has the highest household income ($90k).
Gardner has the oldest housing (typical home built 1954).
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 | Clinton | Gardner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,748 |
9,292Lowest |
15,563 |
21,148Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +13.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9 about the U.S. average |
43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S. |
38.6±2.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
17.8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3 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%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3 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. |
$70,561±$7k 13% below U.S. |
$89,781±$10kHighest 11% above U.S. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$387,300±$19kHighest 16% above U.S. |
$301,600±$20k 9% below 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. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,402±$76Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,999 28% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$4,654Highest 49% above U.S. |
$4,150 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±6.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gardner and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
54.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Highest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
30 min 13% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Clinton and Gardner 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 | #246 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Putnam School District | Clinton | Gardner |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | Putnam High School | Clinton Senior High | Gardner High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
9.5Lowest |
12.8 |
13.5Highest |
| 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.