Compare towns
Putnam vs Ashburnham vs Griswold
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putnam has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Ashburnham has the most people working from home (16%).
Griswold has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
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.
| Measure | Putnam | Ashburnham | Griswold |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,292 |
6,415Lowest |
11,530Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
40.7±6.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
48.1±3.9Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Griswold and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±3.7Lowest 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%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±3.5Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
44%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest 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. |
$78,719±$11k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$390,700±$34kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$275,900±$42k 17% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,807±$1kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$1,177±$65 17% below U.S. |
| Ashburnham and Griswold 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. |
$4,628 48% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±15.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashburnham and Griswold 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% |
7.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.6Lowest 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 | #118 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Ashburnham-Westminster | Griswold School District |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | None in town | Griswold High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
— | 11.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.