What stands out worked out from the figures below

Baltimore has the most affordable homes ($219k median).

Putnam has the most kids (17.4% under 18).

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	Baltimore	Putnam
People
Population	361Lowest	540Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-6.9% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	51.2±10.3Lowest 32% above U.S.	53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S.
	Putnam and Baltimore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	8.9%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	17.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Putnam and Baltimore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	31.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	2.8%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Putnam and Baltimore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$107,500±$16kHighest 33% above U.S.	$92,344±$14kLowest 14% above U.S.
	Baltimore and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$219,400±$27kLowest 34% below U.S.	$266,200±$48kHighest 20% below U.S.
	Putnam and Baltimore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,329Highest 39% above U.S.	$3,674Lowest 18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	26.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Baltimore and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	1.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	7.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 21% below U.S.	21 minHighest 19% below U.S.
Work from home	9.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Baltimore and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.