Compare towns

Putnam vs Upton vs Washington

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 highest household income ($156k).
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k 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.

MeasurePutnamUptonWashington
People
Population
9,292Highest
8,189
3,676Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+6.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
43.7±3Lowest
12% above U.S.
46.4±4.8
19% above U.S.
49.9±5.5Highest
28% above U.S.
Washington and Upton 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%
23.2%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
19%±4.7
U.S.: 22%
Upton and Washington 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%
20.7%±4.9
U.S.: 17.2%
26.9%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Washington 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%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
53.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
53.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.4%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Washington 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.
$155,508±$33kHighest
93% above U.S.
$101,549±$16k
26% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$269,200±$11kLowest
19% below U.S.
$576,700±$41k
73% above U.S.
$660,200±$130kHighest
98% above U.S.
Washington and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,149±$44
19% below U.S.
$948±$599Lowest
33% below U.S.
$1,204±$264Highest
15% below U.S.
Washington 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.
$8,376Highest
169% above U.S.
$4,709
51% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
37.7%±11.6
U.S.: 51.1%
52.8%±31Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
26.1%±24Lowest
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%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
59.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
79%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
6% below U.S.
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
26 min
3% below U.S.
Work from home
9%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.1%±9
U.S.: 15.1%
Upton and Washington 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 #17 of 149 in CT
School district Putnam School District Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton Regional School District 12
High school in town Putnam High School Blackstone Valley Shepaug Valley School
Students per teacherat that high school
9.5
11.2Highest
9.1Lowest
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.