What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Wareham has the most expensive homes ($425k 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	Wareham
People
Population	9,292Lowest	23,302Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+6.8% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S.	52.1±3.1Highest 34% above U.S.
Kids under 18	18.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22%	13.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Putnam and Wareham 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%	26.2%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	27.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.6%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Wareham 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.	$90,383±$11kHighest 12% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S.	$424,500±$21kHighest 28% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S.	$1,504±$180Highest 6% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S.	$4,341Highest 39% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	51.4%±23.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Wareham 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%	6.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	83.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1961Highest 19 yrs older than U.S.	1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.	28 minHighest 4% above U.S.
Work from home	9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	12.4%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Wareham 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	#272 of 282 in MA
School district	Putnam School District	Wareham
High school in town	Putnam High School	Wareham Senior High
Students per teacherat that high school	9.5Highest	8.6Lowest
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.