Compare towns
Putnam vs Sturbridge vs Sutton vs Pomfret
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 most affordable homes ($245k median).
Sturbridge has the oldest population (median age 47.2).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k median).
Pomfret has the most kids (23.1% under 18).
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 | Pomfret |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,120 |
9,960Highest |
9,452 |
4,317Lowest |
| 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% |
— |
| Median age | 41.2±5.1Lowest 6% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
45.9±3.7 18% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Pomfret 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%±3 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Pomfret and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±4.5 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.8% 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% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pomfret 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±$7kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$136,759±$15k 69% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$108,476±$8k 34% above 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±$13kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$409,100±$28k 23% above 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. |
$1,210±$300Highest 14% below U.S. |
| Pomfret 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. |
$5,903 89% 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%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pomfret and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
6% 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% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.7%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.2%±5.2 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 | #39 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Sutton | Pomfret School District |
| High school in town | — | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Sutton High School | None in town |
| 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.