Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Danielson 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
Sturbridge has the most people working from home (19.8%).
Danielson has the youngest population (median age 34.5).
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 | Sturbridge | Danielson | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,960Highest |
4,209Lowest |
9,292 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
34.5±3.6Lowest 11% below U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±6.1 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sturbridge and Danielson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sturbridge and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
11.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
20% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.2%±6.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Danielson and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S. |
$64,050±$15kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$70,561±$7k 13% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $425,800±$18kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$224,600±$13kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$269,200±$11k 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
$1,235±$194Highest 13% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Danielson and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,520Highest 109% above U.S. |
$4,009 29% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.7%±17.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Danielson and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
21.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
53%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #89 of 282 in MA | — | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | — | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | — | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.7Lowest |
— | 9.5Highest |
| 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.