Compare towns
Hanson vs Putnam vs Sutton vs Royalston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hanson has the most kids (25% under 18).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Royalston has the oldest population (median age 47.8).
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 | Hanson | Putnam | Sutton | Royalston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,927 |
9,292 |
9,452Highest |
1,460Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±4.3 13% above U.S. |
43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
47.8±14.6Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Royalston and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±10 U.S.: 22% |
| Hanson and Royalston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Royalston and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Royalston and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $119,211±$24k 48% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$102,109±$8k 26% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $513,000±$55k 54% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$346,300±$18k 4% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,650±$412Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Royalston and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,429 106% above U.S. |
$3,860 24% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$3,196Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Royalston and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 100%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
96% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 39% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 45% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #149 of 282 in MA | #128 of 149 in CT | #105 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Putnam School District | Sutton | Athol-Royalston |
| High school in town | — | Putnam High School | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5Lowest |
12.6Highest |
— |
| 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.