Compare towns
Sutton vs Barkhamsted vs Putnam vs Wilbraham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k median).
Barkhamsted has the oldest population (median age 50.2).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Wilbraham has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
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 | Sutton | Barkhamsted | Putnam | Wilbraham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
3,678Lowest |
9,292 |
14,572Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
50.2±3.3Highest 29% above U.S. |
43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
44.3±2.7 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Wilbraham and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.2%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barkhamsted and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barkhamsted and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$123,544±$9k 53% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$122,051±$14k 51% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Barkhamsted are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$368,000±$15k 11% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$416,000±$25k 25% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401Highest 16% below U.S. |
$1,164±$114 18% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,175±$241 17% below U.S. |
| Sutton and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$6,354 104% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$6,658 113% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
28.8%±35.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.1%±23.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wilbraham and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.3%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Barkhamsted 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #63 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #88 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Barkhamsted School District | Putnam School District | Hampden-Wilbraham |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | None in town | Putnam High School | Minnechaug Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
— | 9.5Lowest |
14.2Highest |
| 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.