What stands out worked out from the figures below

Gardner has the most people working from home (13.3%).

Putnam has the shortest commute (25 min average).

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	Gardner	Putnam
People
Population	21,148Highest	9,292Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.2% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	43.7±2.3 12% above U.S.	43.7±3 12% above U.S.
Kids under 18	18.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Putnam and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Gardner and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	23.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Gardner and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S.	$70,561±$7kHighest 13% below U.S.
	Putnam and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$301,600±$20kHighest 9% below U.S.	$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S.	$1,149±$44Highest 19% below U.S.
	Putnam and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,150Highest 33% above U.S.	$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.7%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%	37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Gardner and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	11.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	59.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S.	1961Highest 19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 16% above U.S.	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	13.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Gardner 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	#273 of 282 in MA	#128 of 149 in CT
School district	Gardner	Putnam School District
High school in town	Gardner High	Putnam High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.5Highest	9.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.