What stands out worked out from the figures below

Northfield has the most people working from home (16.5%).

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	Northfield	Putnam
People
Population	2,872Lowest	9,292Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5.5% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	48.9±4.2Highest 26% above U.S.	43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S.
	Northfield and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Putnam and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.5%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Northfield and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Northfield and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$103,375±$10kHighest 28% above U.S.	$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$375,800±$31kHighest 13% above U.S.	$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,142±$200Lowest 19% below U.S.	$1,149±$44Highest 19% below U.S.
	Putnam and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,594Highest 47% above U.S.	$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.2%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Northfield and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962Highest 18 yrs older than U.S.	1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 19% above U.S.	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	16.5%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Northfield 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	#231 of 282 in MA	#128 of 149 in CT
School district	Pioneer Valley	Putnam School District
High school in town	Pioneer Valley Regional	Putnam High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7Highest	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.