What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rochester has the most expensive homes ($599k median).

Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k 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	Rochester	Putnam
People
Population	5,837Lowest	9,292Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.3% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	46.5±6Highest 20% above U.S.	43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S.
	Rochester and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.1%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22%	18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Rochester and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.1%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Rochester and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	43.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Rochester and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$120,273±$12kHighest 49% above U.S.	$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$599,100±$31kHighest 80% above U.S.	$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,432±$743Highest about the U.S. average	$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S.
	Rochester and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,530Highest 109% above U.S.	$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.1%±10.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Rochester and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S.	1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 38% above U.S.	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	8.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Putnam and Rochester 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	#104 of 282 in MA	#128 of 149 in CT
School district	Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical · Rochester	Putnam School District
High school in town	Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical	Putnam High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.1Lowest	9.5Highest
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.