What stands out worked out from the figures below

Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).

Bristol has the most expensive homes ($485k median).

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	Bristol
People
Population	9,292Lowest	22,220Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-2% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S.	43±2.2Lowest 11% above U.S.
	Putnam and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22%	12.9%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	22.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Bristol and Putnam 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%	47.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	18.6%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S.	$97,764±$8kHighest 21% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S.	$485,000±$25kHighest 46% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S.	$1,579±$118Highest 12% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S.	$5,393Highest 73% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	37.9%±8.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Bristol 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%	6.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	66.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S.	1964Highest 16 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.	25 minHighest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	11.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Bristol 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	#20 of 38 in RI
School district	Putnam School District	Bristol Warren
High school in town	Putnam High School	Mt. Hope High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.5Lowest	12.5Highest
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.