Compare towns
Sutton vs North Reading 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 homeowners (89.7%).
North Reading has the most expensive homes ($711k median).
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.
| Measure | Sutton | North Reading | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,452 |
15,765Highest |
9,292Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
43±2.8Lowest 11% above U.S. |
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% |
22.3%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| North Reading 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% |
16.7%±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% U.S.: 35.7% |
56.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| North Reading 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±$25k 82% above U.S. |
$147,768±$25kHighest 83% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| North Reading and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$710,500±$24kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$2,259±$356Highest 60% above U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763 117% above U.S. |
$9,693Highest 211% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
75.5%±25.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| North Reading 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% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.1%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| North Reading and Sutton 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 | #33 of 282 in MA | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sutton | North Reading | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | North Reading High | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
10.1 |
9.5Lowest |
| 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.