What stands out worked out from the figures below

Putnam has the highest household income ($92k).

Halifax has the most people working from home (29.9%).

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	Halifax
People
Population	540Lowest	847Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S.	40.6±13.1Lowest 4% above U.S.
	Putnam and Halifax 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%	25.4%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Halifax 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%	22.6%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	44.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Putnam and Halifax 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.	$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$266,200±$48kLowest 20% below U.S.	$267,500±$21kHighest 20% below U.S.
	Halifax and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$875±$154 38% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,674Lowest 18% above U.S.	$4,991Highest 60% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	57.1%±73.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Halifax 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	86.6%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 minLowest 19% below U.S.	33 minHighest 23% above U.S.
Work from home	8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	29.9%±11.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
School district	PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	Halifax School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
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.