What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lakeville has the most expensive homes ($566k 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	Lakeville	Putnam
People
Population	11,944Highest	9,292Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.7% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	43.8±1.9Highest 13% above U.S.	43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S.
	Lakeville and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22%	18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Lakeville and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	18.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Putnam and Lakeville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	38.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Lakeville and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$133,984±$11kHighest 66% above U.S.	$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$565,900±$27kHighest 70% above U.S.	$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,884±$466Highest 33% above U.S.	$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,536Highest 77% above U.S.	$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.5%±18.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Lakeville and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S.	1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	15.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Lakeville 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	#96 of 282 in MA	#128 of 149 in CT
School district	Freetown-Lakeville	Putnam School District
High school in town	Apponequet Regional High	Putnam High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.9Highest	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.