Compare towns
Adams vs Putnam vs North Brookfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Adams has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Putnam has the most kids (18.6% under 18).
North Brookfield has the most people working from home (13.1%).
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 | Adams | Putnam | North Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,074 |
9,292Highest |
4,760Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +1.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.3±3.3Highest 22% above U.S. |
43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
45.2±9.4 16% above U.S. |
| Adams and North Brookfield 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% |
16.9%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Putnam and North Brookfield 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% |
18.7%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Adams and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.3%Highest 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% |
4.5%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $58,929±$6kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$70,561±$7k 13% below U.S. |
$79,285±$11kHighest about the U.S. average |
| North Brookfield and Putnam 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±$11k 19% below U.S. |
$359,100±$32kHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $963±$74Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44Highest 19% below U.S. |
$981±$63 31% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,638Lowest 17% above U.S. |
$3,860 24% above U.S. |
$4,176Highest 34% 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% |
52.4%±15.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Adams and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Highest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1953 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| North Brookfield and Putnam 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 | #270 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hoosac Valley Regional | Putnam School District | North Brookfield |
| High school in town | None in town | Putnam High School | North Brookfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5Highest |
5.5Lowest |
| 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.