What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Wilbraham has the highest household income ($122k).

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	Wilbraham
People
Population	9,292Lowest	14,572Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+2.8% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S.	44.3±2.7Highest 14% above U.S.
	Wilbraham 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%	23.2%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	Wilbraham and Putnam 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%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Wilbraham 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%	51.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.2%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Wilbraham 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.	$122,051±$14kHighest 51% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S.	$416,000±$25kHighest 25% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S.	$1,175±$241Highest 17% below U.S.
	Wilbraham 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.	$6,658Highest 113% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	53.1%±23.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Wilbraham 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%	4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	88.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S.	1966Highest 14 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.	27 minHighest about the U.S. average
Work from home	9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	12.9%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Wilbraham 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	#88 of 282 in MA
School district	Putnam School District	Hampden-Wilbraham
High school in town	Putnam High School	Minnechaug Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school	9.5Lowest	14.2Highest
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.