Compare towns
Brookfield vs Putnam vs Sutton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookfield has the oldest population (median age 52.4).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
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 | Brookfield | Putnam | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,460Lowest |
9,292 |
9,452Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.4±2.1Highest 35% above U.S. |
43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sutton and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.4%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookfield and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,250±$37k about the U.S. average |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $341,900±$23k about the U.S. average |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,014±$161Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401Highest 16% below U.S. |
| Sutton and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,092 63% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±11.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brookfield and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #109 of 282 in MA | #128 of 149 in CT | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brookfield | Putnam School District | Sutton |
| High school in town | None in town | Putnam High School | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5Lowest |
12.6Highest |
| 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.