Compare towns
Washington vs Putnam vs Upton vs Bethlehem
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).
Bethlehem has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
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 | Washington | Putnam | Upton | Bethlehem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,676 |
9,292Highest |
8,189 |
3,423Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 49.9±5.5 28% above U.S. |
43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
51.5±8.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Bethlehem and Washington 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%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4Lowest 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% |
24.5%±5.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Washington and Bethlehem 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% |
39.2% 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% |
4.5%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Washington and Bethlehem 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. |
$108,929±$16k 35% above U.S. |
| Upton and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| 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. |
$410,900±$36k 24% 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. |
$1,127±$124 20% 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. |
$5,932 90% 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%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
69.7%±38.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bethlehem and Upton 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% |
10.4% 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% |
70.2% 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. |
1976 4 yrs older 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. |
29 min 10% 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% |
13.9%±5 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 | #82 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 12 | Putnam School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Regional School District 14 |
| High school in town | Shepaug Valley School | Putnam High School | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.1Lowest |
9.5 |
11.2Highest |
— |
| 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.