What stands out worked out from the figures below

Clinton has the most people working from home (14.2%).

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	Clinton	Putnam
People
Population	15,563Highest	9,292Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+13.4% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	38.6±2.7Lowest about the U.S. average	43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S.
	Putnam and Clinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Putnam and Clinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	18.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Putnam and Clinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.9%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Clinton and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$89,781±$10kHighest 11% above U.S.	$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$387,300±$19kHighest 16% above U.S.	$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,402±$76Highest about the U.S. average	$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,654Highest 49% above U.S.	$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40.3%±6.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%	37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Clinton and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	54.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	59.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S.	1961Highest 19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 13% above U.S.	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	14.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Clinton 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	#246 of 282 in MA	#128 of 149 in CT
School district	Clinton	Putnam School District
High school in town	Clinton Senior High	Putnam High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Highest	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.