Compare towns
Paxton vs Putnam vs Sutton vs Spencer
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Paxton has the most people working from home (25.5%).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k median).
Spencer has the oldest population (median age 48.9).
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 | Paxton | Putnam | Sutton | Spencer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,002Lowest |
9,292 |
9,452 |
12,008Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±3.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
48.9±6.8Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Spencer and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sutton and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Spencer and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.9%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $134,083±$8k 66% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$80,533±$11k about the U.S. average |
| Sutton and Paxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $472,300±$29k 42% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$382,000±$22k 15% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Paxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$88Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,078±$161Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Paxton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,129Highest 129% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$4,387 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.2%±15.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±10.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Spencer and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
63% 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. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.5%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Paxton and Sutton 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 | #219 of 282 in MA | #128 of 149 in CT | #105 of 282 in MA | #261 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Putnam School District | Sutton | Spencer-E Brookfield |
| High school in town | None in town | Putnam High School | Sutton High School | David Prouty High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5Lowest |
12.6Highest |
9.9 |
| 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.