Compare towns
Sterling vs Sutton vs Putnam vs Chaplin
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).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k median).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k 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 | Sterling | Sutton | Putnam | Chaplin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,629 |
9,452Highest |
9,292 |
2,070Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.3±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
43.7±4.8 12% above U.S. |
| Sutton 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% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and Sutton 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% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chaplin and Sutton 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% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chaplin and Sutton 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. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$97,846±$14k 21% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $283,400±$17k 15% below U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11k 19% below U.S. |
$255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,473±$275Highest 4% above U.S. |
| Chaplin and Sutton 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. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$4,524 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±27.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sutton 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% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±10 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Chaplin 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #128 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Sterling School District | Sutton | Putnam School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 |
| High school in town | None in town | Sutton High School | Putnam High School | Parish Hill High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Highest |
9.5 |
7.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.