Compare towns

Sturbridge vs Putnam vs Killingly vs Upton

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 oldest population (median age 47.2).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k 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.

MeasureSturbridgePutnamKillinglyUpton
People
Population
9,960
9,292
17,867Highest
8,189Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
— —
+6.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
47.2±2.6Highest
21% above U.S.
43.7±3
12% above U.S.
39.5±3Lowest
about the U.S. average
46.4±4.8
19% above U.S.
Sturbridge and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.7%±3
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
23.2%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
Upton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.8%±3
U.S.: 17.2%
18.5%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Upton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
49.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
20%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
22.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
53.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.6%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Killingly 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±$15k
69% above U.S.
$70,561±$7kLowest
13% below U.S.
$84,350±$8k
4% above U.S.
$155,508±$33kHighest
93% above U.S.
Upton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$425,800±$18k
28% above U.S.
$269,200±$11kLowest
19% below U.S.
$288,600±$15k
13% below U.S.
$576,700±$41kHighest
73% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,193±$398Highest
16% below U.S.
$1,149±$44
19% below U.S.
$1,044±$141
26% below U.S.
$948±$599Lowest
33% below U.S.
Sturbridge and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,520
109% above U.S.
$3,860Lowest
24% above U.S.
$3,922
26% above U.S.
$8,376Highest
169% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42%±17.7
U.S.: 51.1%
37.7%±11.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.8%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
52.8%±31Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Upton and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
59.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
38 minHighest
43% above U.S.
25 minLowest
6% below U.S.
28 min
6% above U.S.
35 min
34% above U.S.
Work from home
19.8%±4.8
U.S.: 15.1%
9%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Upton and Sturbridge 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 #89 of 282 in MA #128 of 149 in CT #136 of 149 in CT #46 of 282 in MA
School district Sturbridge · Tantasqua Putnam School District Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton
High school in town Tantasqua Regional Sr High Putnam High School Killingly High School Blackstone Valley
Students per teacherat that high school
7.7Lowest
9.5
11.1
11.2Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.