What stands out worked out from the figures below

Westminster has the most expensive homes ($422k median).

Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Westminster	Putnam
People
Population	8,374Lowest	9,292Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12.9% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	48.3±4.6Highest 24% above U.S.	43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S.
	Westminster and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22%	18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Westminster and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Westminster and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.9%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Putnam and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$106,331±$22kHighest 32% above U.S.	$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$422,000±$36kHighest 27% above U.S.	$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,843±$268Highest 30% above U.S.	$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,973Highest 59% above U.S.	$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	60%±27.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Westminster and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the U.S. average	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	12.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Westminster and Putnam 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	#112 of 282 in MA	#128 of 149 in CT
School district	Ashburnham-Westminster	Putnam School District
High school in town	Oakmont Regional High School	Putnam High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.6Highest	9.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.