Compare towns
Putnam vs Brookline vs Dresden
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).
Brookline has the most people working from home (20.6%).
Dresden has the most affordable homes ($192k 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 | Brookline | Dresden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 540 |
531Lowest |
551Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-17.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±6.4 38% above U.S. |
45.1±2.7Lowest 16% above U.S. |
59±2.8Highest 52% above U.S. |
| Dresden and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
20%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Putnam 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% |
19.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.9%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookline and Putnam 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. |
$80,833±$16k about the U.S. average |
$64,180±$9kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Putnam and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $266,200±$48k 20% below U.S. |
$290,700±$37kHighest 13% below U.S. |
$191,500±$48kLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Brookline and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,066±$109Lowest 25% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,674 18% above U.S. |
$5,000Highest 60% above U.S. |
$3,138Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±94.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.4%±48.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brookline and Dresden 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% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.6%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.