Compare towns
Oxford vs Putnam vs Sutton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Oxford has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
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 | Oxford | Putnam | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,385Highest |
9,292Lowest |
9,452 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42±2.8Lowest 8% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Oxford and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sutton and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Oxford and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,862±$10k 29% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $374,900±$18k 13% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,177±$142 17% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401Highest 16% below U.S. |
| Sutton and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,622 48% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.8%±15.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Oxford and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 7% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Oxford 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 | #245 of 282 in MA | #128 of 149 in CT | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Oxford | Putnam School District | Sutton |
| High school in town | Oxford High | Putnam High School | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
9.5Lowest |
12.6Highest |
| 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.