Compare towns

Putnam vs Pawtucket vs Putnam

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Putnam has the most homeowners (59.8%).
Pawtucket has the most expensive homes ($326k median).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($245k 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.

MeasurePutnamPawtucketPutnam
People
Population
9,292
75,893Highest
7,120Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+6.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.7±3Highest
12% above U.S.
37.1±0.8Lowest
5% below U.S.
41.2±5.1
6% above U.S.
Putnam 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%
22.4%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.9%±4.3
U.S.: 22%
Pawtucket and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.5%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
14.5%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
17%±3.7
U.S.: 17.2%
Putnam 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
22.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
18.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±0.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
Pawtucket 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±$7kHighest
13% below U.S.
$68,310±$4k
15% below U.S.
$65,511±$7kLowest
19% below U.S.
Putnam and Pawtucket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$269,200±$11k
19% below U.S.
$325,500±$8kHighest
about the U.S. average
$245,100±$13kLowest
26% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,149±$44
19% below U.S.
$1,208±$39Highest
15% below U.S.
$1,147±$43Lowest
19% below U.S.
Pawtucket and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,860
24% above U.S.
$4,115Highest
32% above U.S.
$3,564Lowest
14% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
37.7%±11.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
45.9%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
38.2%±12.1
U.S.: 51.1%
Pawtucket and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
13.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
59.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
50.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
50.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1961Highest
19 yrs older than U.S.
1947Lowest
33 yrs older than U.S.
1956
24 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
6% below U.S.
26 minHighest
3% below U.S.
25 min
5% below U.S.
Work from home
9%±2.8
U.S.: 15.1%
9.2%±1.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.7%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Pawtucket 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 #35 of 38 in RI #128 of 149 in CT
School district Putnam School District Blackstone Academy · Pawtucket —
High school in town Putnam High School William E. Tolman High —
Students per teacherat that high school
9.5Lowest
14.6Highest
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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.