Compare towns
Danielson vs Lancaster vs Putnam vs Sterling
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danielson has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Putnam has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
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 | Danielson | Lancaster | Putnam | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,209 |
8,606 |
9,292Highest |
3,629Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 34.5±3.6Lowest 11% below U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S. |
39.4±5.9 about the U.S. average |
| Putnam and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±6.1 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.6%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 11.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20% U.S.: 35.7% |
18% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.2%±6.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Danielson and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $64,050±$15kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7k 13% below U.S. |
$102,695±$12k 27% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,600±$13kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11k 19% below U.S. |
$283,400±$17k 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,235±$194 13% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,009 29% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$4,551 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.7%±17.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Danielson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 21.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.6%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #145 of 282 in MA | #128 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Nashoba | Putnam School District | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Putnam High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.5 |
— |
| 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.