What stands out worked out from the figures below

Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).

Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).

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	Nelson	Putnam
People
Population	648Lowest	9,292Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-13.7% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S.	43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S.
	Putnam and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22%	18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Nelson and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.9%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Putnam and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$99,792±$23kHighest 24% above U.S.	$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S.
	Nelson and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$340,900±$49kHighest about the U.S. average	$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,203±$243Highest 15% below U.S.	$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S.
	Nelson and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,575Highest 79% above U.S.	$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40%±68.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Nelson and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S.	1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 8% below U.S.	25 minHighest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#128 of 149 in CT
School district	Nelson School District	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.