What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hull has the most expensive homes ($646k median).

Putnam has the most kids (18.6% under 18).

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	Hull	Putnam
People
Population	10,138Highest	9,292Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.1% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	56.1±1.8Highest 44% above U.S.	43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S.
Kids under 18	11.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	26.1%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	50.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hull and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$115,485±$14kHighest 43% above U.S.	$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$646,000±$38kHighest 94% above U.S.	$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,081±$187Highest 47% above U.S.	$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,089Highest 95% above U.S.	$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.8%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1%	37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hull and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1946Lowest 34 yrs older than U.S.	1961Highest 19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 26% above U.S.	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	19.7%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#66 of 282 in MA	#128 of 149 in CT
School district	Hull	Putnam School District
High school in town	Hull High	Putnam High School
Students per teacherat that high school	8.8Lowest	9.5Highest
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.