Compare towns

Putnam vs Sutton vs Wilbraham

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%).
Wilbraham 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.

MeasurePutnamSuttonWilbraham
People
Population
9,292Lowest
9,452
14,572Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+4.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.7±3Lowest
12% above U.S.
44.3±2.5Highest
14% above U.S.
44.3±2.7Highest
14% above U.S.
Kids under 18
18.6%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.6%±3.3
U.S.: 22%
23.2%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
Wilbraham 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%
23%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Wilbraham 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%
51.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.2%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Wilbraham 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.
$147,125±$25kHighest
82% above U.S.
$122,051±$14k
51% above U.S.
Sutton and Wilbraham 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.
$416,000±$25k
25% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,149±$44Lowest
19% below U.S.
$1,190±$401Highest
16% below U.S.
$1,175±$241
17% below U.S.
Sutton and Wilbraham 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.
$6,658
113% 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%
53.1%±23.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Wilbraham 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%
4.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
59.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
89.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
88.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1966
14 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%
12.9%±3.1
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #128 of 149 in CT #105 of 282 in MA #88 of 282 in MA
School district Putnam School District Sutton Hampden-Wilbraham
High school in town Putnam High School Sutton High School Minnechaug Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school
9.5Lowest
12.6
14.2Highest
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.