Compare towns
Gardner vs Putnam vs Quinebaug
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gardner has the most expensive homes ($302k median).
Putnam has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Quinebaug has the most people working from home (23.3%).
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 | Gardner | Putnam | Quinebaug |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
9,292 |
1,193Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
56.5±1Highest 45% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
0%±3.3Lowest 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%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.1%±9.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Quinebaug and Gardner 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
10.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±2.4Lowest 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±$7k 13% below U.S. |
$105,181±$36kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Quinebaug and Putnam 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±$11k 19% below U.S. |
$237,800±$66kLowest 29% 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. |
$3,860 24% above U.S. |
$3,703Lowest 19% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Highest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.3%±17.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Quinebaug and Gardner 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 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.