Compare towns
Sutton vs Salem 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 people working from home (22.7%).
Salem has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
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 | Salem | Putnam | Wilbraham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
4,282Lowest |
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±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
40.9±5.4Lowest 5% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
44.3±2.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilbraham and Salem 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% |
50.6% 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% |
5.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salem 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. |
$123,245±$8k 53% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$122,051±$14k 51% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Salem 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. |
$403,600±$33k 21% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$416,000±$25k 25% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,440±$150Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,175±$241 17% below U.S. |
| Salem 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. |
$6,668 114% 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% |
32.1%±26Lowest 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% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 19% 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% |
18%±9.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Salem 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 | #11 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #88 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Salem 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.