What stands out worked out from the figures below

Putnam has the shortest commute (25 min average).

Warren has the most expensive homes ($334k 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	Warren
People
Population	9,292Highest	5,009Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-3.1% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S.	38.7±7.3Lowest about the U.S. average
	Putnam and Warren 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%	20.8%±8Highest U.S.: 22%
	Warren 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%	14.6%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Putnam and Warren 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%	23.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Putnam and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$70,561±$7kHighest 13% below U.S.	$66,082±$6kLowest 18% below U.S.
	Putnam and Warren 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.	$333,700±$35kHighest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,149±$44Highest 19% below U.S.	$890±$174Lowest 37% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S.	$4,530Highest 45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.7%±11.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%	29.7%±18.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Putnam and Warren 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%	9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	64.5%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 minLowest 6% below U.S.	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8.5%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Putnam and Warren 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	#165 of 282 in MA
School district	Putnam School District	Quaboag Regional
High school in town	Putnam High School	Quaboag Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school	9.5Lowest	10.0Highest
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.