What stands out worked out from the figures below

Putnam has the shortest commute (21 min average).

Waterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).

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	Waterville
People
Population	540Lowest	680Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S.	49.1±8.2Lowest 26% above U.S.
	Putnam and Waterville 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%	20.4%±8.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Waterville 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%	14.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	32.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.3%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Waterville 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 14% above U.S.	$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below U.S.
	Putnam and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$266,200±$48kHighest 20% below U.S.	$236,300±$15kLowest 29% below U.S.
	Putnam and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,110±$93 21% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,674Lowest 18% above U.S.	$3,957Highest 27% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	44.6%±27.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Waterville 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%	4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.	1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 19% below U.S.	38 minHighest 42% above U.S.
Work from home	8.6%±5.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Putnam and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A
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.