What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Lynn has the most expensive homes ($510k 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	Lynn
People
Population	9,292Lowest	101,709Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+12.1% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S.	36.5±1.2Lowest 6% below U.S.
Kids under 18	18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22%	24.1%±1.4Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	18.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	13.7%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	24.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.4%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Lynn 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.	$75,043±$3kHighest 7% below U.S.
	Lynn 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.	$510,100±$23kHighest 53% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S.	$1,722±$60Highest 22% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S.	$5,384Highest 73% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	60%±4.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	11.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	13.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	59.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	48.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1961Highest 19 yrs older than U.S.	1946Lowest 34 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.	32 minHighest 19% above U.S.
Work from home	9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	7.9%±1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Putnam and Lynn 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	#277 of 282 in MA
School district	Putnam School District	Lynn
High school in town	Putnam High School	Lynn English High
Students per teacherat that high school	9.5Lowest	15.0Highest
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.