What stands out worked out from the figures below

Milford has the most expensive homes ($477k 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	Milford	Putnam
People
Population	30,431Highest	9,292Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.5% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	38.9±1.8Lowest about the U.S. average	43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S.
Kids under 18	20.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22%	18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Milford and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Milford and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4%	3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$96,365±$4kHighest 19% above U.S.	$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$476,700±$12kHighest 43% above U.S.	$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,909±$137Highest 35% above U.S.	$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,869Highest 88% above U.S.	$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.8%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Milford and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	65.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S.	1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 40% above U.S.	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	14.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#213 of 282 in MA	#128 of 149 in CT
School district	Milford	Putnam School District
High school in town	Milford High	Putnam High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9Highest	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.