What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k 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	Needham
People
Population	9,292Lowest	32,459Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+11.1% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S.	43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S.
	Putnam and Needham 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%	27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	18.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Putnam and Needham 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%	81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Needham 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.	$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S.	$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S.	$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Needham 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%	3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S.	1965Highest 15 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.	28 minHighest 5% above U.S.
Work from home	9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#128 of 149 in CT	#19 of 282 in MA
School district	Putnam School District	Needham
High school in town	Putnam High School	Needham High
Students per teacherat that high school	9.5Lowest	11.9Highest
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.