What stands out worked out from the figures below

Putnam has the most expensive homes ($266k median).

Richfield has the most affordable homes ($146k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Putnam	Richfield
People
Population	540Lowest	1,949Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.9%Highest NY: +4.2%	-13.5%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	53.6±6.4Highest 35% above NY	37±7.3Lowest 7% below NY
Kids under 18	17.4%±5.2Lowest NY: 20.5%	17.8%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5%
	Richfield 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 NY: 17.9%	21.8%±2Lowest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.4%Highest NY: 40.2%	26.5%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±1.9Lowest NY: 7%	5.7%±4.2Highest NY: 7%
	Richfield 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 7% above NY	$59,833±$14kLowest 30% below NY
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$266,200±$48kHighest 37% below NY	$146,400±$15kLowest 65% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$802±$72 51% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,674Highest 44% below NY	$2,207Lowest 66% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100Lowest NY: 52.1%	39.1%±18.6Highest NY: 52.1%
	Richfield and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.2%Lowest NY: 14%	18.2%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.9%Highest NY: 54.3%	71.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Highest 12 yrs newer than NY	1947Lowest 12 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 34% below NY	31 minHighest 5% below NY
Work from home	8.6%±5.7Highest NY: 14.9%	4.9%±3.6Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Putnam and Richfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	RICHFIELD SPRINGS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

NY 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.