Compare towns
Sutton vs Pepperell 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%).
Pepperell has the youngest population (median age 42.4).
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 | Pepperell | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,452 |
11,663Highest |
9,292Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3Lowest 9% 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% |
20.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Pepperell 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% |
18.2%±2.3Lowest 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% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pepperell 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. |
$124,073±$12k 54% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Sutton and Pepperell 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. |
$482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Sutton and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,295±$238Highest 8% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Pepperell 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. |
$6,698 115% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sutton and Pepperell 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% |
8% 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. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Pepperell 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 | #153 of 282 in MA | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sutton | North Middlesex | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | None in town | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
— | 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.