Compare towns
Webster vs Thomaston vs Putnam
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 expensive homes ($362k median).
Thomaston has the highest household income ($103k).
Putnam has the most people working from home (9%).
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 | Thomaston | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,748Highest |
7,492Lowest |
9,292 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.5±7.7 7% above U.S. |
43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Thomaston 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% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Thomaston and Webster 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% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Webster and Thomaston 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% |
34%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Webster and Thomaston 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. |
$103,218±$15kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$12kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$282,600±$23k 15% below U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81Highest 13% below U.S. |
$1,037±$147Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
| Webster and Putnam 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. |
$5,915Highest 90% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.9%±22Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thomaston 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% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Highest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 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. |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Putnam and Webster 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 | #106 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Webster | Thomaston School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | Thomaston High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
10.7 |
9.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.