Compare towns
Sutton vs Bristol 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
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Bristol has the youngest population (median age 37.9).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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 | Bristol | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,452 |
61,462Highest |
9,292Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
37.9±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.7±3 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 | 19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±1.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bristol and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sutton and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bristol and Sutton 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. |
$79,076±$6k about the U.S. average |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$277,800±$8k 17% below U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,338±$45Highest 5% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Bristol and Sutton 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. |
$5,449 75% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.5%±5.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bristol and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±1.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #105 of 282 in MA | #115 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sutton | Bristol School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Bristol Central High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
14.0Highest |
9.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.