What stands out worked out from the figures below

Putnam has the most affordable homes ($245k median).

Andover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.1%).

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	Putnam	Andover
People
Population	7,120Lowest	36,652Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+10.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.2±5.1Lowest 6% above U.S.	42.9±1Highest 10% above U.S.
	Andover and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.9%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	23.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22%
	Andover and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	16%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Putnam and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	18.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	75.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	8.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$65,511±$7kLowest 19% below U.S.	$172,606±$16kHighest 114% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$245,100±$13kLowest 26% below U.S.	$855,600±$22kHighest 157% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,147±$43Lowest 19% below U.S.	$2,201±$129Highest 56% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,564Lowest 14% above U.S.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.2%±12.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	39.7%±7.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Andover and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S.	1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 5% below U.S.	29 minHighest 10% above U.S.
Work from home	6.7%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	30.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#128 of 149 in CT	#68 of 282 in MA
School district	—	Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical
High school in town	—	Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical
Students per teacherat that high school	—	12.8
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.