Compare towns
Putnam vs Reading vs Walpole vs Griswold
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 shortest commute (25 min average).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k median).
Walpole has the most kids (25.1% under 18).
Griswold has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
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.
| Measure | Putnam | Reading | Walpole | Griswold |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,292Lowest |
25,612 |
26,388Highest |
11,530 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
40.9±1.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
48.1±3.9Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Griswold and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
25.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Walpole and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading 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% |
66.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
67.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Walpole 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. |
$165,912±$13k 106% above U.S. |
$171,500±$16kHighest 112% above U.S. |
$78,719±$11k about the U.S. average |
| Walpole and Reading 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. |
$809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$687,100±$20k 107% above U.S. |
$275,900±$42k 17% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,991±$273 41% above U.S. |
$2,205±$222Highest 56% above U.S. |
$1,177±$65 17% below U.S. |
| Walpole and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$9,320Highest 199% above U.S. |
$8,523 173% above U.S. |
$4,628 48% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±15.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Griswold and Walpole 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Walpole 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 | #50 of 282 in MA | #107 of 282 in MA | #118 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Reading | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Griswold School District |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | Reading Memorial High | Walpole High | Griswold High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
12.1Highest |
11.3 |
11.5 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.