What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fall River has the most expensive homes ($396k median).

Putnam has the most homeowners (59.8%).

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	Fall River	Putnam
People
Population	94,082Highest	9,292Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.8% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	39.3±1.2Lowest about the U.S. average	43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S.
Kids under 18	19.9%±1.2Highest U.S.: 22%	18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Fall River and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	18.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Putnam and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	16.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	20%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Fall River and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$56,673±$3kLowest 30% below U.S.	$70,561±$7kHighest 13% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$395,500±$11kHighest 19% above U.S.	$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,155±$27Highest 18% below U.S.	$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S.
	Fall River and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,953Highest 27% above U.S.	$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Fall River and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	11.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	35.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	59.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S.	1961Highest 19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest about the U.S. average	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	7.1%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Putnam and Fall River 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	#262 of 282 in MA	#128 of 149 in CT
School district	Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical	Putnam School District
High school in town	B M C Durfee High	Putnam High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.3Highest	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.