Compare towns
Putnam vs Ayer vs Danielson
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).
Ayer has the most people working from home (19.8%).
Danielson has the youngest population (median age 34.5).
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 | Ayer | Danielson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,292Highest |
3,098Lowest |
4,209 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S. |
42.1±6.9 8% above U.S. |
34.5±3.6Lowest 11% below U.S. |
| Putnam and Ayer 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% |
20.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±6.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and Danielson 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% |
15.3%±5.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Putnam and Ayer 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% |
37.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
11.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.2%±6.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Danielson and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,561±$7k 13% below U.S. |
$74,878±$17kHighest 7% below U.S. |
$64,050±$15kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Ayer and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $269,200±$11k 19% below U.S. |
$444,600±$43kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$224,600±$13kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,240±$169Highest 12% below U.S. |
$1,235±$194 13% below U.S. |
| Ayer and Danielson 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. |
$4,911Highest 57% above U.S. |
$4,009 29% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.7%±17.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ayer and Danielson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
21.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
53%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Highest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #128 of 149 in CT | #113 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Putnam School District | — | — |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5 |
— | — |
| 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.