What stands out worked out from the figures below

Middleborough has the most expensive homes ($469k 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	Middleborough	Putnam
People
Population	24,505Highest	9,292Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.9% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	43.4±2.1Lowest 12% above U.S.	43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S.
	Putnam and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22%	18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Middleborough and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Middleborough and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.9%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Putnam and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$97,056±$7kHighest 20% above U.S.	$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$468,700±$18kHighest 41% above U.S.	$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,706±$72Highest 21% above U.S.	$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,023Highest 93% above U.S.	$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.2%±11.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%	37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Middleborough and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.	1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 18% above U.S.	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	13.6%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Middleborough 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	#170 of 282 in MA	#128 of 149 in CT
School district	Middleborough	Putnam School District
High school in town	Middleborough High	Putnam High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.3Highest	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.