What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Washington has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.7%).

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	Washington
People
Population	540Lowest	1,056Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	-0.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S.	52.9±5.1Lowest 36% above U.S.
	Putnam and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22%	16.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Putnam and Washington 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%	24.3%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Putnam and Washington 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.	$66,103±$8kLowest 18% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$266,200±$48kHighest 20% below U.S.	$217,700±$37kLowest 35% below U.S.
	Putnam and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$996±$285 30% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,674Highest 18% above U.S.	$3,485Lowest 12% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	34.5%±63.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Washington 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%	3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	94.4%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.	31 minHighest 16% above U.S.
Work from home	8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	14.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Washington 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	Echo Valley Community Union School District #67
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.