What stands out worked out from the figures below

Putnam has the shortest commute (21 min average).

West Haven has the most people working from home (10.4%).

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	West Haven
People
Population	540Highest	234Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.9% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	53.6±6.4Lowest 38% above U.S.	54±10.5Highest 39% above U.S.
	West Haven and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.4%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22%	17.5%±13.3Highest U.S.: 22%
	West Haven 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%	29.9%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Putnam and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	30.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	0.4%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Putnam and West Haven 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.	$85,250±$29kLowest 6% above U.S.
	Putnam and West Haven 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.	$245,000±$34kLowest 26% below U.S.
	Putnam and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,674Lowest 18% above U.S.	$4,485Highest 44% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100 U.S.: 51.1%	0%±100 U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	10.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	90.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 19% below U.S.	25 minHighest 4% below U.S.
Work from home	8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	10.4%±6.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	West Haven 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	—
High school in town	None in town	—
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.