Compare towns
Danielson vs Putnam vs Saugus 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).
Putnam has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Saugus has the most expensive homes ($603k median).
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 | Putnam | Saugus | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,209 |
9,292 |
28,773Highest |
3,629Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +7.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 34.5±3.6Lowest 11% below U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
44.5±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
39.4±5.9 about the U.S. average |
| Saugus and Putnam 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% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and Danielson 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% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Saugus 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% |
20% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.2%±6.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Danielson and Saugus 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. |
$70,561±$7k 13% below U.S. |
$101,539±$3k 26% above U.S. |
$102,695±$12kHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Sterling and Saugus 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. |
$269,200±$11k 19% below U.S. |
$603,400±$13kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$283,400±$17k 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,235±$194 13% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$2,241±$201Highest 59% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,009 29% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$6,049Highest 94% above U.S. |
$4,551 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.7%±17.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
53%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Saugus 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% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.6%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Saugus and Sterling 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 | — | #128 of 149 in CT | #194 of 282 in MA | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Putnam School District | Saugus | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | — | Putnam High School | Saugus High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5Lowest |
15.5Highest |
— |
| 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.