What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Fairhaven has the most expensive homes ($447k 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	Fairhaven
People
Population	9,292Lowest	15,903Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+0.3% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S.	48.5±3.4Highest 25% above U.S.
	Fairhaven and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22%	16.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Putnam and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	24.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	32.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Putnam and Fairhaven 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.	$95,965±$19kHighest 19% above U.S.
	Fairhaven 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±$11kLowest 19% below U.S.	$446,700±$19kHighest 34% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,149±$44Highest 19% below U.S.	$1,118±$79Lowest 21% below U.S.
	Putnam and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,860Highest 24% above U.S.	$3,566Lowest 14% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	51.1%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Fairhaven 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%	8.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	74.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1961Highest 19 yrs older than U.S.	1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.	29 minHighest 8% above U.S.
Work from home	9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	11.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Fairhaven 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	#126 of 282 in MA
School district	Putnam School District	Fairhaven
High school in town	Putnam High School	Fairhaven High
Students per teacherat that high school	9.5Lowest	11.4Highest
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.