What stands out worked out from the figures below

Putnam has the shortest commute (25 min average).

Winchendon has the most homeowners (76.6%).

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	Winchendon
People
Population	9,292Lowest	10,440Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+0.6% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S.	39.6±1.9Lowest about the U.S. average
	Putnam and Winchendon 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%	21.8%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Winchendon 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%	16.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Putnam and Winchendon 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%	21.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Winchendon 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.	$75,690±$14kHighest 6% below U.S.
	Winchendon and Putnam 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.	$323,800±$19kHighest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S.	$1,255±$163Highest 11% below U.S.
	Winchendon and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,860Highest 24% above U.S.	$3,780Lowest 21% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	61.7%±17.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Winchendon and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	18.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	76.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S.	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.	32 minHighest 23% above U.S.
Work from home	9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	11.2%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Winchendon 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	#269 of 282 in MA
School district	Putnam School District	Winchendon
High school in town	Putnam High School	Murdock High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.5Lowest	11.3Highest
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.