Compare towns
Worcester vs Putnam vs Elmore
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Putnam has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Elmore has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
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 | Worcester | Putnam | Elmore |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 831 |
540Lowest |
964Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
45±3.5Lowest 16% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±9.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Elmore and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.6%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$92,344±$14k 14% above U.S. |
$98,750±$24kHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Elmore and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27k 19% below U.S. |
$266,200±$48kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$315,800±$47kHighest 5% below U.S. |
| Elmore and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
— | $1,225±$263Highest 13% below U.S. |
| Elmore and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421 42% above U.S. |
$3,674Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$5,066Highest 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±65.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Elmore and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.