Compare towns
Putnam vs Shirley 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 affordable homes ($269k median).
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 | Shirley | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,292Highest |
6,976Lowest |
8,189 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
44.3±3.4 14% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Upton and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest 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% |
19.8%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Upton and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Shirley and Putnam 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. |
$122,365±$16k 52% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
| Upton and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$427,600±$36k 29% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,481±$421Highest 5% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Shirley and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$5,156 65% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±21.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Shirley and Upton 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% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Shirley 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 | #239 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Putnam School District | Ayer Shirley School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | None in town | 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.