What stands out worked out from the figures below

Avon has the most expensive homes ($510k median).

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.

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

Measure	Avon	Putnam
People
Population	4,774Lowest	9,292Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.7% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	37.5±4Lowest 4% below U.S.	43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S.
	Putnam and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.6%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22%	18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Avon and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.6%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	18.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Putnam and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Avon and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$130,625±$33kHighest 62% above U.S.	$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$509,600±$62kHighest 53% above U.S.	$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,558±$265Highest 10% above U.S.	$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,627Highest 112% above U.S.	$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.3%±24.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%	37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Avon and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S.	1961Highest 19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 5% above U.S.	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	10.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Avon 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	#212 of 282 in MA	#128 of 149 in CT
School district	Avon	Putnam School District
High school in town	Avon Middle High School	Putnam High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.4Lowest	9.5Highest
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.