What stands out worked out from the figures below

Blackstone has the most people working from home (17.4%).

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	Blackstone	Putnam
People
Population	9,255Lowest	9,292Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	43.2±1.7Lowest 11% above U.S.	43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S.
	Putnam and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.8%±4Highest U.S.: 22%	18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Blackstone and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2%	18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.9%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Putnam and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$94,191±$21kHighest 17% above U.S.	$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S.
	Blackstone and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$404,400±$34kHighest 22% above U.S.	$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,189±$85Highest 16% below U.S.	$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S.
	Blackstone and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,703Highest 83% above U.S.	$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	65%±18.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Blackstone and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Highest 13 yrs older than U.S.	1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 28% above U.S.	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	17.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#207 of 282 in MA	#128 of 149 in CT
School district	Blackstone-Millville	Putnam School District
High school in town	Blackstone Millville RHS	Putnam High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.6Highest	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.