Compare towns
Franklin vs Northbridge vs Putnam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Franklin has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
Northbridge has the most people working from home (16.2%).
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.
| Measure | Franklin | Northbridge | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,004Lowest |
16,458Highest |
9,292 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 40.3±4.3Lowest 4% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
| Northbridge and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.2%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Franklin and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Putnam and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Northbridge and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $105,000±$10k 30% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Northbridge and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $326,200±$20k about the U.S. average |
$448,600±$15kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $767±$529Lowest 46% below U.S. |
$1,207±$102Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
| Northbridge and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,934 26% above U.S. |
$4,821Highest 55% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.5%±18.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northbridge and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 3% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #226 of 282 in MA | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Franklin School District | Northbridge | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Northbridge High | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.8Highest |
9.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.