Compare towns

Putnam vs Rochester 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 people working from home (9%).
Rochester has the most expensive homes ($599k median).
Putnam has the most renters (49.3% rent).

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.

MeasurePutnamRochesterPutnam
People
Population
9,292Highest
5,837Lowest
7,120
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+9.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.7±3
12% above U.S.
46.5±6Highest
20% above U.S.
41.2±5.1Lowest
6% 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%
18.9%±4.3
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%±3.1
U.S.: 17.2%
20.1%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17%±3.7Lowest
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%
U.S.: 35.7%
43.5%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%
4%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Putnam and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$70,561±$7k
13% below U.S.
$120,273±$12kHighest
49% above U.S.
$65,511±$7kLowest
19% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$269,200±$11k
19% below U.S.
$599,100±$31kHighest
80% above U.S.
$245,100±$13kLowest
26% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,149±$44
19% below U.S.
$1,432±$743Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,147±$43Lowest
19% below U.S.
Rochester 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.
$6,530Highest
109% above U.S.
$3,564Lowest
14% 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%
38.2%±12.1
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%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
59.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
88.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
50.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1961
19 yrs older than U.S.
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
6% below U.S.
37 minHighest
38% above U.S.
25 min
5% below U.S.
Work from home
9%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
8.3%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
6.7%±2.7Lowest
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 #128 of 149 in CT
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
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On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.