What stands out worked out from the figures below

North Brookfield has the most people working from home (13.1%).

Putnam has the shortest commute (25 min average).

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	North Brookfield	Putnam
People
Population	4,760Lowest	9,292Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.2% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	45.2±9.4Highest 16% above U.S.	43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S.
	North Brookfield and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Putnam and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.7%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	North Brookfield and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	North Brookfield and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$79,285±$11kHighest about the U.S. average	$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S.
	North Brookfield and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$359,100±$32kHighest 8% above U.S.	$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$981±$63Lowest 31% below U.S.	$1,149±$44Highest 19% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,176Highest 34% above U.S.	$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.4%±15.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	North Brookfield and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	11.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S.	1961Highest 19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 41% above U.S.	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	13.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	North Brookfield 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	#270 of 282 in MA	#128 of 149 in CT
School district	North Brookfield	Putnam School District
High school in town	North Brookfield High	Putnam High School
Students per teacherat that high school	5.5Lowest	9.5Highest
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.