What stands out worked out from the figures below

Putnam has the most kids (18.6% under 18).

Sheffield has the most expensive homes ($409k 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	Sheffield
People
Population	9,292Highest	3,330Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+2.1% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S.	48.2±8Highest 24% above U.S.
	Sheffield 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%	13.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Putnam and Sheffield 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%	23.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Sheffield 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%	37.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Sheffield 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.	$92,120±$31kHighest 14% above U.S.
	Sheffield and Putnam 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.	$409,400±$32kHighest 23% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S.	$1,837±$1kHighest 30% above U.S.
	Sheffield 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.	$4,520Highest 45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.7%±11.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%	29.2%±21.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Putnam and Sheffield 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%	6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	82.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S.	1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest 6% below U.S.	21 minLowest 22% below U.S.
Work from home	9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Putnam and Sheffield 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	#250 of 282 in MA
School district	Putnam School District	Southern Berkshire
High school in town	Putnam High School	Mt Everett Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	9.5Highest	7.8Lowest
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.