What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Millis has the most expensive homes ($604k 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	Millis
People
Population	9,292Highest	8,888Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+7.2% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S.	46.4±3Highest 19% above U.S.
	Millis 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%	18.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Putnam and Millis 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%	23.5%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Millis 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%	54.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Millis 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.	$155,996±$9kHighest 93% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S.	$603,500±$31kHighest 81% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S.	$1,696±$279Highest 20% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S.	$9,344Highest 200% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	56.5%±16.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Millis 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%	4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	83.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S.	1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.	31 minHighest 16% above U.S.
Work from home	9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	17.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#128 of 149 in CT	#63 of 282 in MA
School district	Putnam School District	Millis
High school in town	Putnam High School	Millis High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.5Lowest	10.7Highest
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.