What stands out worked out from the figures below

Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).

Ashburnham has the most people working from home (16%).

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	Ashburnham
People
Population	9,292Highest	6,415Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+3.8% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S.	40.7±6.3Lowest 5% above U.S.
	Putnam and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.6%±6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Ashburnham and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.1%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Putnam and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	44%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Ashburnham and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S.	$118,809±$11kHighest 47% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S.	$390,700±$34kHighest 17% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S.	$1,807±$1kHighest 28% above U.S.
	Ashburnham and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S.	$6,046Highest 94% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Ashburnham and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	96%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S.	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.	32 minHighest 21% above U.S.
Work from home	9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	16%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Ashburnham 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	#128 of 149 in CT	#178 of 282 in MA
School district	Putnam School District	Ashburnham-Westminster
High school in town	Putnam High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	9.5	—
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.