Compare towns
Putnam vs Sutton vs Westminster
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).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Westminster has the oldest population (median age 48.3).
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 | Sutton | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,292 |
9,452Highest |
8,374Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
48.3±4.6Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Westminster and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Westminster 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% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster and Sutton 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% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$106,331±$22k 32% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Westminster 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. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$422,000±$36k 27% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,843±$268Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Westminster and Sutton 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. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$4,973 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
60%±27.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Westminster 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% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #128 of 149 in CT | #105 of 282 in MA | #112 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Putnam School District | Sutton | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | Sutton High School | Oakmont Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
12.6 |
13.6Highest |
| 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.