What stands out worked out from the figures below

Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k 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	Needham	Putnam
People
Population	32,459Highest	9,292Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.1% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S.	43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S.
	Putnam and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22%	18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	18.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Putnam and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Needham and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S.	$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S.	$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,409±$183Highest 70% 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	55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Needham and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1965Highest 15 yrs older than U.S.	1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 5% above U.S.	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#19 of 282 in MA	#128 of 149 in CT
School district	—	Putnam School District
High school 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.