Compare towns
Dighton vs Sterling vs Putnam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dighton has the most expensive homes ($502k median).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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 | Dighton | Sterling | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,193 |
3,629Lowest |
9,292Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 42.7±2.9 10% above U.S. |
39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Dighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±4 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and Dighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.5%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Putnam and Dighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
20% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dighton and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $136,646±$19kHighest 69% above U.S. |
$102,695±$12k 27% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $501,900±$47kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$283,400±$17k 15% below U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,405±$192Highest about the U.S. average |
— | $1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,452Highest 107% above U.S. |
$4,551 46% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.8%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putnam and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sterling and Dighton 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 | #85 of 282 in MA | #119 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bristol County Agricultural · Dighton-Rehoboth | Sterling School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Bristol County Agricultural High | None in town | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
— | 9.5Lowest |
| 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.