Compare towns
Putnam vs Athens vs Mansfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putnam has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Athens has the most people working from home (19.3%).
Mansfield has the most affordable homes ($200k 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.
| Measure | Putnam | Athens | Mansfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 540 |
431Lowest |
691Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±6.4 38% above U.S. |
47.3±6.5Lowest 22% above U.S. |
54±5.5Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Mansfield and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Putnam and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Athens and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,344±$14kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$68,438±$30kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$83,304±$14k 3% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $266,200±$48kHighest 20% below U.S. |
$240,400±$32k 28% below U.S. |
$200,000±$29kLowest 40% below U.S. |
| Putnam and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,125±$537 20% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,674Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$5,438Highest 74% above U.S. |
$4,122 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.5%±39Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Athens and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
26 min 3% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±12.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Athens and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.