What stands out worked out from the figures below

North Providence has the most people working from home (12.4%).

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	North Providence	Putnam
People
Population	34,293Highest	9,292Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.3% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	42.1±1.9Lowest 8% above U.S.	43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S.
	Putnam and North Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.7%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Putnam and North Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.9%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	North Providence and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.2%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	North Providence and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$83,756±$6kHighest 4% above U.S.	$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S.
	North Providence and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$355,900±$12kHighest 7% above U.S.	$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,405±$64Highest about the U.S. average	$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,843Highest 55% above U.S.	$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.7%±6.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	North Providence and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	63.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970Highest 10 yrs older than U.S.	1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 3% above U.S.	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	12.4%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	North Providence 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	#26 of 38 in RI	#128 of 149 in CT
School district	North Providence · Excel Academy Rhode Island	Putnam School District
High school in town	North Providence High	Putnam High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Highest	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.