Compare towns

Putnam vs Townsend 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 oldest population (median age 43.7).
Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).
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.

MeasurePutnamTownsendPutnam
People
Population
9,292Highest
9,100
7,120Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+2.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.7±3Highest
12% above U.S.
40.9±3.3Lowest
5% above U.S.
41.2±5.1
6% above U.S.
Putnam 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%
21%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.9%±4.3
U.S.: 22%
Townsend and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.5%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.1%±2.1
U.S.: 17.2%
17%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Putnam and Townsend 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%
35.5%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%
5.1%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
Townsend 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±$7k
13% below U.S.
$121,528±$23kHighest
51% above U.S.
$65,511±$7kLowest
19% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$269,200±$11k
19% below U.S.
$433,200±$22kHighest
30% above U.S.
$245,100±$13kLowest
26% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,149±$44
19% below U.S.
$1,469±$313Highest
4% above U.S.
$1,147±$43Lowest
19% below U.S.
Townsend 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.
$6,031Highest
93% above U.S.
$3,564Lowest
14% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
37.7%±11.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
50.6%±16.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
38.2%±12.1
U.S.: 51.1%
Townsend 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%
8.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
59.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
82%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
50.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1961
19 yrs older than U.S.
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
6% below U.S.
37 minHighest
41% above U.S.
25 min
5% below U.S.
Work from home
9%±2.8
U.S.: 15.1%
10.5%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.7%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Townsend and Putnam 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 #136 of 282 in MA #128 of 149 in CT
School district Putnam School District North Middlesex —
High school in town Putnam High School North Middlesex Regional —
Students per teacherat that high school
9.5Lowest
13.1Highest
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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.