What stands out worked out from the figures below

Putnam has the oldest population (median age 53.6).

Cavendish has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.8%).

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	Cavendish
People
Population	540Lowest	1,242Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+1.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S.	45.2±5.9Lowest 16% above U.S.
	Putnam and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.4%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.3%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22%
	Cavendish 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%	23.6%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	39.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.3%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Cavendish 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.	$89,063±$29kLowest 10% above U.S.
	Putnam and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$266,200±$48kLowest 20% below U.S.	$285,100±$40kHighest 14% below U.S.
	Cavendish and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,000±$546 29% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,674Lowest 18% above U.S.	$3,948Highest 27% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	28.9%±27Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Cavendish and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	81.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S.	1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minHighest 19% below U.S.	19 minLowest 30% below U.S.
Work from home	8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	18.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Cavendish and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	Green Mountain Unified School District #77
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	18 photos →

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.