Compare towns
Putnam vs Sterling 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).
Sterling has the most people working from home (18.3%).
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 | Sterling | Danielson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,292Highest |
8,183 |
4,209Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
51.5±1.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
34.5±3.6Lowest 11% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Danielson and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sterling and Putnam 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% |
48.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
11.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.2%±6.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Danielson and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,561±$7k 13% below U.S. |
$129,063±$27kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$64,050±$15kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $269,200±$11k 19% below U.S. |
$498,800±$48kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$224,600±$13kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,699±$161Highest 20% above U.S. |
$1,235±$194 13% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$6,757Highest 117% above U.S. |
$4,009 29% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.7%±17.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sterling and Danielson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
21.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
53%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #128 of 149 in CT | #135 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Putnam School District | Wachusett | — |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5 |
— | — |
| 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.