What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lynnfield has the most expensive homes ($918k 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	Lynnfield	Putnam
People
Population	13,064Highest	9,292Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12.1% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	41.4±2.1Lowest 6% above U.S.	43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S.
	Putnam and Lynnfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	28%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22%	18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	17.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	18.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Putnam and Lynnfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.9%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Putnam and Lynnfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$175,265±$23kHighest 117% above U.S.	$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$917,600±$31kHighest 176% above U.S.	$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,676±$219Highest 89% above U.S.	$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.	$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	69.2%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Lynnfield and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Highest 16 yrs older than U.S.	1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 22% above U.S.	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	27.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#27 of 282 in MA	#128 of 149 in CT
School district	Lynnfield	Putnam School District
High school in town	Lynnfield High	Putnam High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.0Highest	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.