What stands out worked out from the figures below

Adams has the most affordable homes ($210k median).

Putnam has the most expensive 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Adams	Putnam
People
Population	8,074Lowest	9,292Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.8% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	47.3±3.3Highest 22% above U.S.	43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S.
	Adams and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Putnam and Adams are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	24.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Adams and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$58,929±$6kLowest 27% below U.S.	$70,561±$7kHighest 13% below U.S.
	Putnam and Adams are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$209,900±$15kLowest 37% below U.S.	$269,200±$11kHighest 19% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$963±$74Lowest 32% below U.S.	$1,149±$44Highest 19% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,638Lowest 17% above U.S.	$3,860Highest 24% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62.1%±10.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	13.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	11.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	62.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.	1961Highest 19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 11% below U.S.	25 minHighest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	8.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Putnam and Adams 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	#230 of 282 in MA	#128 of 149 in CT
School district	Hoosac Valley Regional	Putnam School District
High school in town	None in town	Putnam High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	9.5
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.