What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hopedale has the most expensive homes ($466k 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	Hopedale	Putnam
People
Population	6,027Lowest	9,292Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.8% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	44.4±5.2Highest 14% above U.S.	43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S.
	Hopedale and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.4%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22%	18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Hopedale and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hopedale and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hopedale and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$115,722±$19kHighest 43% above U.S.	$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$466,100±$28kHighest 40% above U.S.	$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,788±$223Highest 27% above U.S.	$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,868Highest 120% above U.S.	$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.9%±30.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hopedale and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S.	1961Highest 19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 17% above U.S.	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	13.2%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hopedale 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	#125 of 282 in MA	#128 of 149 in CT
School district	Hopedale	Putnam School District
High school in town	Hopedale Jr Sr High	Putnam High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.2Highest	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.