What stands out worked out from the figures below

Marion has the most expensive homes ($654k 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	Marion	Putnam
People
Population	5,310Lowest	9,292Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	53.8±4Highest 38% above U.S.	43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S.
Kids under 18	16.7%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Putnam and Marion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27.3%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Marion and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	46.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.7%±4.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Marion and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$143,092±$30kHighest 77% above U.S.	$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$653,500±$47kHighest 96% above U.S.	$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,176±$516Highest 17% below U.S.	$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S.
	Marion and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,766Highest 85% above U.S.	$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	75.8%±26.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Marion and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962Highest 18 yrs older than U.S.	1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 27% above U.S.	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	20.1%±8.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Marion 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	#141 of 282 in MA	#128 of 149 in CT
School district	Marion	Putnam School District
High school in town	None in town	Putnam High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	9.5
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.