Compare towns
Northbridge vs Suffield 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
Northbridge has the most kids (21.1% under 18).
Suffield has the most homeowners (86.7%).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
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 | Northbridge | Suffield | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,458Highest |
15,702 |
9,292Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Suffield and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Northbridge and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Putnam and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Suffield and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
$119,472±$13kHighest 48% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Suffield and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $448,600±$15kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$407,500±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Northbridge and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
$1,424±$141Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Suffield and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,821 55% above U.S. |
$6,456Highest 107% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northbridge and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
26 min 3% below U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Suffield and Northbridge 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 | #226 of 282 in MA | #57 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Northbridge | Suffield School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | Suffield High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8 |
10.9Highest |
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.