Compare towns

Washington 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

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

MeasureWashingtonUptonPutnam
People
Population
3,676Lowest
8,189
9,292Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+6.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
49.9±5.5Highest
28% above U.S.
46.4±4.8
19% above U.S.
43.7±3Lowest
12% 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%
23.2%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±3.6Lowest
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%
20.7%±4.9
U.S.: 17.2%
18.5%±3.1Lowest
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%
53.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
20%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.4%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.4
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.
$155,508±$33kHighest
93% above U.S.
$70,561±$7kLowest
13% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$660,200±$130kHighest
98% above U.S.
$576,700±$41k
73% above U.S.
$269,200±$11kLowest
19% below 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.
$948±$599Lowest
33% below U.S.
$1,149±$44
19% 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.
$8,376Highest
169% above U.S.
$3,860Lowest
24% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
26.1%±24Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.8%±31Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
37.7%±11.6
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%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
59.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 min
3% below U.S.
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
25 minLowest
6% below U.S.
Work from home
20.1%±9
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
9%±2.8Lowest
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 #46 of 282 in MA #128 of 149 in CT
School district Regional School District 12 Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton Putnam School District
High school in town Shepaug Valley School Blackstone Valley Putnam High School
Students per teacherat that high school
9.1Lowest
11.2Highest
9.5
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.