Compare towns

Voluntown vs Upton 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

Voluntown has the oldest population (median age 48.3).
Upton has the most people working from home (22.8%).
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.

MeasureVoluntownUptonPutnam
People
Population
2,604Lowest
8,189
9,292Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+6.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
48.3±1.7Highest
24% above U.S.
46.4±4.8
19% above U.S.
43.7±3Lowest
12% above U.S.
Voluntown and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.4%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.2%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±3.6
U.S.: 22%
Upton and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.6%±3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.5%±3.1
U.S.: 17.2%
Upton and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
26.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
53.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
20%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.4%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Putnam and Voluntown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$101,964±$25k
26% above U.S.
$155,508±$33kHighest
93% above U.S.
$70,561±$7kLowest
13% below U.S.
Upton and Voluntown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$356,100±$16k
7% above U.S.
$576,700±$41kHighest
73% above U.S.
$269,200±$11kLowest
19% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,166±$191Highest
17% below U.S.
$948±$599Lowest
33% below U.S.
$1,149±$44
19% below U.S.
Voluntown and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,955
59% above U.S.
$8,376Highest
169% above U.S.
$3,860Lowest
24% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.9%±24.3
U.S.: 51.1%
52.8%±31Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
37.7%±11.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Upton and Voluntown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
83.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
59.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983Highest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 min
19% above U.S.
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
25 minLowest
6% below U.S.
Work from home
8.9%±5.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
9%±2.8
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #53 of 149 in CT #46 of 282 in MA #128 of 149 in CT
School district Voluntown School District Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton Putnam School District
High school in town None in town Blackstone Valley Putnam High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.2Highest
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.