What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fairhaven has the most expensive homes ($447k 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	Fairhaven	Putnam
People
Population	15,903Highest	9,292Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.3% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	48.5±3.4Highest 25% above U.S.	43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S.
	Fairhaven and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Putnam and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.9%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Putnam and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$95,965±$19kHighest 19% above U.S.	$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S.
	Fairhaven and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$446,700±$19kHighest 34% above U.S.	$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,118±$79Lowest 21% below U.S.	$1,149±$44Highest 19% below U.S.
	Putnam and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,566Lowest 14% above U.S.	$3,860Highest 24% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.1%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1%	37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Fairhaven and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S.	1961Highest 19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 8% above U.S.	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	11.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Fairhaven 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	#126 of 282 in MA	#128 of 149 in CT
School district	Fairhaven	Putnam School District
High school in town	Fairhaven High	Putnam High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Highest	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.