What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Whitman has the most expensive homes ($473k 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	Whitman
People
Population	9,292Lowest	15,295Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+4.4% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S.	40.4±1.8Lowest 4% above U.S.
	Putnam and Whitman 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%	21.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22%
	Whitman 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%	15.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Putnam and Whitman 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%	31.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Whitman 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.	$108,933±$14kHighest 35% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S.	$472,700±$12kHighest 42% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S.	$1,771±$151Highest 25% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S.	$5,824Highest 87% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	61.9%±13.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Whitman 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%	7.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	71.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1961Highest 19 yrs older than U.S.	1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.	36 minHighest 37% above U.S.
Work from home	9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	10.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Whitman 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	#191 of 282 in MA
School district	Putnam School District	Whitman-Hanson
High school in town	Putnam High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	9.5	—
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.