What stands out worked out from the figures below

Putnam has the oldest population (median age 53.6).

Standish has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).

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	Standish
People
Population	540Lowest	10,662Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S.	40.5±2.8Lowest 4% above U.S.
Kids under 18	17.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22%	16.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Putnam and Standish 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%	15.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	36%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	11.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$92,344±$14kLowest 14% above U.S.	$104,593±$15kHighest 30% above U.S.
	Standish 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±$48kLowest 20% below U.S.	$336,000±$18kHighest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$983±$453 30% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,674Highest 18% above U.S.	$3,005Lowest 4% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	57.4%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Standish 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 U.S.: 12.5%	7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	91.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.	1980Highest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 19% below U.S.	29 minHighest 11% above U.S.
Work from home	8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	13.6%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Standish and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#18 of 133 in ME
School district	PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	RSU 06/MSAD 06
High school in town	None in town	Bonny Eagle High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	12.5
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.