What stands out worked out from the figures below

South Kingstown has the most expensive homes ($560k 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	South Kingstown	Putnam
People
Population	32,073Highest	9,292Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.2% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	38.9±2.2Lowest about the U.S. average	43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S.
	Putnam and South Kingstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Putnam and South Kingstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23%±1.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	South Kingstown and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	22.9%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$108,960±$10kHighest 35% above U.S.	$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$560,200±$22kHighest 68% above U.S.	$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,368±$194Highest 3% below U.S.	$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S.
	South Kingstown and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,338Highest 71% above U.S.	$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.9%±11Highest U.S.: 51.1%	37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	South Kingstown and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest 5% below U.S.	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	14.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#9 of 38 in RI	#128 of 149 in CT
School district	Kingston Hill Academy · The Compass School	Putnam School District
High school in town	South Kingstown High	Putnam High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.8Highest	9.5Lowest
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.