Compare towns

Washington vs Putnam vs Upton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k median).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).

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.

MeasureWashingtonPutnamUpton
People
Population
3,676Lowest
9,292Highest
8,189
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — —
+6.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
49.9±5.5Highest
28% above U.S.
43.7±3Lowest
12% above U.S.
46.4±4.8
19% above U.S.
Washington and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19%±4.7
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.2%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
Upton and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
26.9%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.5%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±4.9
U.S.: 17.2%
Washington and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
53.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
20%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
53.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.4%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Washington and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$101,549±$16k
26% above U.S.
$70,561±$7kLowest
13% below U.S.
$155,508±$33kHighest
93% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$660,200±$130kHighest
98% above U.S.
$269,200±$11kLowest
19% below U.S.
$576,700±$41k
73% above U.S.
Washington and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,204±$264Highest
15% below U.S.
$1,149±$44
19% below U.S.
$948±$599Lowest
33% below U.S.
Washington and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,709
51% above U.S.
$3,860Lowest
24% above U.S.
$8,376Highest
169% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
26.1%±24Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
37.7%±11.6
U.S.: 51.1%
52.8%±31Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Upton and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79%
U.S.: 65.2%
59.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 min
3% below U.S.
25 minLowest
6% below U.S.
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
Work from home
20.1%±9
U.S.: 15.1%
9%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Upton and Washington 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 #17 of 149 in CT #128 of 149 in CT #46 of 282 in MA
School district Regional School District 12 Putnam School District Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton
High school in town Shepaug Valley School Putnam High School Blackstone Valley
Students per teacherat that high school
9.1Lowest
9.5
11.2Highest
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.