What stands out worked out from the figures below

Leominster has the most expensive homes ($380k 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	Leominster	Putnam
People
Population	43,909Highest	9,292Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.4% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	43.3±2.2Lowest 11% above U.S.	43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S.
	Putnam and Leominster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22%	18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Leominster and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.3%±1.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Leominster and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	33.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Leominster and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$83,816±$7kHighest 4% above U.S.	$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S.
	Leominster and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$380,400±$14kHighest 14% above U.S.	$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,354±$50Highest 4% below U.S.	$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,256Highest 69% above U.S.	$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%	37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Leominster and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	62.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Highest 13 yrs older than U.S.	1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest about the U.S. average	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	10.9%±2.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Leominster 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	#233 of 282 in MA	#128 of 149 in CT
School district	Leominster	Putnam School District
High school in town	Leominster High School	Putnam High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.6Highest	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.