Compare towns

Putnam vs Quinebaug vs Sutton vs Upton

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 renters (40.2% rent).
Quinebaug has the oldest population (median age 56.5).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% 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.

MeasurePutnamQuinebaugSuttonUpton
People
Population
9,292
1,193Lowest
9,452Highest
8,189
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-1.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.7±3Lowest
12% above U.S.
56.5±1Highest
45% above U.S.
44.3±2.5
14% above U.S.
46.4±4.8
19% above U.S.
Kids under 18
18.6%±3.6
U.S.: 22%
0%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.6%±3.3
U.S.: 22%
23.2%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.5%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
29.1%±9.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.8%±3.2
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±4.9
U.S.: 17.2%
Quinebaug and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
20%
U.S.: 35.7%
10.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
52.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
53.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.3%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$70,561±$7kLowest
13% below U.S.
$105,181±$36k
30% above U.S.
$147,125±$25k
82% above U.S.
$155,508±$33kHighest
93% above U.S.
Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$269,200±$11k
19% below U.S.
$237,800±$66kLowest
29% below U.S.
$523,100±$47k
57% above U.S.
$576,700±$41kHighest
73% above U.S.
Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,149±$44
19% below U.S.
—
$1,190±$401Highest
16% below U.S.
$948±$599Lowest
33% below U.S.
Sutton and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,860
24% above U.S.
$3,703Lowest
19% above U.S.
$6,763
117% above U.S.
$8,376Highest
169% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
37.7%±11.6
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
47.5%±24.4
U.S.: 51.1%
52.8%±31Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
1.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
59.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
97%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
89.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1961
19 yrs older than U.S.
1960Lowest
20 yrs older than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
6% below U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
30 min
12% above U.S.
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
Work from home
9%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.3%±17.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±4.1
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±5.3
U.S.: 15.1%
Quinebaug and Upton 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 — #105 of 282 in MA #46 of 282 in MA
School district Putnam School District — Sutton Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton
High school in town Putnam High School — Sutton High School Blackstone Valley
Students per teacherat that high school
9.5Lowest
—
12.6Highest
11.2
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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.