Compare towns
Sterling vs Glocester vs Putnam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
Glocester has the most expensive homes ($397k median).
Putnam has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Sterling | Glocester | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,629Lowest |
10,221Highest |
9,292 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
50.8±4.3Highest 31% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
| Glocester and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and Glocester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Glocester and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Glocester and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,695±$12k 27% above U.S. |
$113,508±$7kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Glocester and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $283,400±$17k 15% below U.S. |
$396,500±$28kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,417±$627Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Glocester and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,551 46% above U.S. |
$5,248Highest 68% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.5%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Glocester and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
91%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Glocester and Sterling 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 | #119 of 149 in CT | #12 of 38 in RI | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sterling School District | Foster-Glocester · Glocester | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Ponaganset High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
9.5Lowest |
| 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.