What stands out worked out from the figures below

Newbury has the most expensive homes ($841k 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	Newbury	Putnam
People
Population	6,777Lowest	9,292Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.8% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	55.1±4.8Highest 42% above U.S.	43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S.
Kids under 18	17.1%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Putnam and Newbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Newbury and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	60.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Newbury and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$174,868±$59kHighest 117% above U.S.	$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$840,600±$40kHighest 153% above U.S.	$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,806±$1kHighest 28% above U.S.	$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S.
	Newbury and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,661Highest 114% above U.S.	$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Newbury and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Highest 17 yrs older than U.S.	1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 9% below U.S.	25 minHighest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	21.5%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#137 of 282 in MA	#128 of 149 in CT
School district	Triton	Putnam School District
High school in town	Triton Regional High School	Putnam High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.6Highest	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.