Compare towns
Putnam vs Sturbridge vs Sutton vs Danielson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putnam has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k median).
Danielson has the youngest population (median age 34.5).
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 | Putnam | Sturbridge | Sutton | Danielson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,120 |
9,960Highest |
9,452 |
4,209Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.2±5.1 6% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
34.5±3.6Lowest 11% below U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sturbridge and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sturbridge and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
11.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.2%±6.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Danielson and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $65,511±$7k 19% below U.S. |
$136,759±$15k 69% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$64,050±$15kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Sutton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,100±$13k 26% below U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$224,600±$13kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,147±$43Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,235±$194Highest 13% below U.S. |
| Danielson and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,564Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$4,009 29% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±12.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.7%±17.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sutton and Danielson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
21.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
53% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.7%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Sturbridge 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #89 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Sutton | — |
| High school in town | — | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Sutton High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.7Lowest |
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.