What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lowell has the most expensive homes ($429k median).

Putnam has the most homeowners (59.8%).

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	Lowell	Putnam
People
Population	118,368Highest	9,292Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.5% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	35.6±0.8Lowest 8% below U.S.	43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S.
Kids under 18	21.7%±1.3Highest U.S.: 22%	18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Lowell and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	12.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	18.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	9.7%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$78,658±$4kHighest about the U.S. average	$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S.
	Lowell and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$429,200±$11kHighest 29% above U.S.	$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,625±$40Highest 15% above U.S.	$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,499Highest 44% above U.S.	$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.4%±3.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Lowell and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	11.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	43.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	59.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S.	1961Highest 19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 6% above U.S.	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	10.6%±1.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Lowell 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	#255 of 282 in MA	#128 of 149 in CT
School district	Lowell	Putnam School District
High school in town	Lowell High	Putnam High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.8Highest	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.