Compare towns
Putnam vs Quinebaug 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 expensive homes ($577k median).
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 | Quinebaug | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,292Highest |
1,193Lowest |
8,189 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -1.7%Lowest 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. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
0%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Putnam 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% |
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% |
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% |
2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Putnam and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$105,181±$36k 30% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
| Upton and Quinebaug 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. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44Highest 19% below U.S. |
— | $948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Putnam and Upton 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. |
$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% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton and Putnam 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% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest 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. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.3%±17.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±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 | — | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Putnam School District | — | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | — | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
— | 11.2Highest |
| 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.