What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Rochester has the most expensive homes ($599k 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	Rochester
People
Population	9,292Highest	5,837Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+9.3% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S.	46.5±6Highest 20% above U.S.
	Rochester 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%	20.1%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Rochester 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%	20.1%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Rochester 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%	43.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Rochester 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.	$120,273±$12kHighest 49% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S.	$599,100±$31kHighest 80% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S.	$1,432±$743Highest about the U.S. average
	Rochester and Putnam 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.	$6,530Highest 109% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	39.1%±10.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Rochester 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%	5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	88.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S.	1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.	37 minHighest 38% above U.S.
Work from home	9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Putnam and Rochester 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	#104 of 282 in MA
School district	Putnam School District	Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical · Rochester
High school in town	Putnam High School	Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical
Students per teacherat that high school	9.5Highest	9.1Lowest
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.