Compare towns
Putnam vs Middlesex 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).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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 | Middlesex | Dresden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 540Lowest |
1,943Highest |
551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-17.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±6.4 38% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% 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% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.9%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%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% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex 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±$14k 14% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$64,180±$9kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Putnam 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. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$191,500±$48kLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,066±$109Lowest 25% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,674 18% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$3,138Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.4%±48.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dresden 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% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.6%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school in town | None 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.