What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Saugus has the most expensive homes ($603k 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	Saugus
People
Population	9,292Lowest	28,773Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+7.5% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S.	44.5±2.5Highest 14% above U.S.
	Saugus and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22%	15.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Putnam and Saugus 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%	22%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Saugus 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%	31.4%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%
	Saugus 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.	$101,539±$3kHighest 26% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S.	$603,400±$13kHighest 81% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S.	$2,241±$201Highest 59% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S.	$6,049Highest 94% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	53%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Saugus 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%	6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	71.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S.	1962Highest 18 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.	30 minHighest 12% above U.S.
Work from home	9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	14.3%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#128 of 149 in CT	#194 of 282 in MA
School district	Putnam School District	Saugus
High school in town	Putnam High School	Saugus High
Students per teacherat that high school	9.5Lowest	15.5Highest
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.