What stands out worked out from the figures below

Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).

Montgomery has the highest household income ($123k).

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	Montgomery
People
Population	9,292Highest	796Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-2.3% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S.	49.7±5.8Highest 28% above U.S.
	Montgomery 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%	22%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22%
	Montgomery 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%	24.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Montgomery 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%	38.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Montgomery 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.	$123,000±$19kHighest 52% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S.	$357,500±$29kHighest 7% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,149±$44 19% below U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S.	$4,283Highest 37% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	50%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Montgomery 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%	1.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	96.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S.	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.	36 minHighest 36% above U.S.
Work from home	9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	9.4%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Montgomery 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	—
School district	Putnam School District	—
High school in town	Putnam High School	—
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.