What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bellingham has the most people working from home (18.3%).

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	Bellingham	Putnam
People
Population	17,410Highest	9,292Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.8% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	38.2±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average	43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S.
Kids under 18	22.1%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22%	18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Bellingham and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.9%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	18.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Putnam and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.9%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Putnam and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$125,307±$10kHighest 55% above U.S.	$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$450,700±$13kHighest 35% above U.S.	$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,836±$196Highest 30% above U.S.	$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,030Highest 61% above U.S.	$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62.8%±16.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%	37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Bellingham and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S.	1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 37% above U.S.	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	18.3%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#232 of 282 in MA	#128 of 149 in CT
School district	Bellingham	Putnam School District
High school in town	Bellingham High School	Putnam High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.4Highest	9.5Lowest
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.