Compare towns

Sutton vs Johnston 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%).
Johnston has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k 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.

MeasureSuttonJohnstonPutnam
People
Population
9,452
29,835Highest
9,292Lowest
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.
44.5±2.5Highest
14% above U.S.
43.7±3Lowest
12% above U.S.
Johnston and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.6%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.5%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±3.6
U.S.: 22%
Sutton and Putnam 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%
22.1%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.5%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Johnston and Sutton 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%
28.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
20%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.1%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Johnston 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.
$91,866±$6k
14% above U.S.
$70,561±$7kLowest
13% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$523,100±$47kHighest
57% above U.S.
$355,500±$13k
7% above U.S.
$269,200±$11kLowest
19% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,190±$401
16% below U.S.
$1,275±$132Highest
10% below U.S.
$1,149±$44Lowest
19% below U.S.
Johnston 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.
$4,614
48% above U.S.
$3,860Lowest
24% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47.5%±24.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
38.1%±8.7
U.S.: 51.1%
37.7%±11.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Sutton and Johnston 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%
7.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
59.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1968
12 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
11% below U.S.
25 min
6% below U.S.
Work from home
22.7%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
9.9%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
9%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #105 of 282 in MA #32 of 38 in RI #128 of 149 in CT
School district Sutton Johnston Putnam School District
High school in town Sutton High School Johnston Senior High Putnam High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.6Highest
10.3
9.5Lowest
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.