What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Hardwick has the most expensive homes ($347k 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	Hardwick
People
Population	9,292Highest	2,684Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-10.8% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S.	45.3±9.8Highest 16% above U.S.
	Hardwick and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Hardwick and Putnam 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%	22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hardwick 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%	30.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hardwick 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.	$75,000±$22kHighest 7% below U.S.
	Hardwick 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.	$346,700±$67kHighest 4% above U.S.
	Hardwick and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,149±$44Highest 19% below U.S.	$1,108±$119Lowest 22% below U.S.
	Putnam and Hardwick 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.	$4,400Highest 41% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	59%±13.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hardwick 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%	11%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	68.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S.	1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.	31 minHighest 18% above U.S.
Work from home	9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Putnam and Hardwick 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	#163 of 282 in MA
School district	Putnam School District	Quabbin
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.