Compare towns
Putney vs Sutton vs Wilbraham vs Brookline
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
Wilbraham has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Brookline has the most affordable homes ($291k 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 | Putney | Sutton | Wilbraham | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
9,452 |
14,572Highest |
531Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
44.3±2.7 14% above U.S. |
45.1±2.7Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
20%±6 U.S.: 22% |
| Wilbraham and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilbraham and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$122,051±$14k 51% above U.S. |
$80,833±$16k about the U.S. average |
| Sutton and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$416,000±$25k 25% above U.S. |
$290,700±$37kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,175±$241 17% below U.S. |
$1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313 70% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$6,658 113% above U.S. |
$5,000Lowest 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.1%±23.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±94.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putney and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Brookline 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | #105 of 282 in MA | #88 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Sutton | Hampden-Wilbraham | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Sutton High School | Minnechaug Regional High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Lowest |
14.2Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.