What stands out worked out from the figures below

Spencer has the most people working from home (15%).

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	Spencer	Putnam
People
Population	12,008Highest	9,292Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	48.9±6.8Highest 26% above U.S.	43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S.
	Spencer and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Putnam and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Spencer and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.2%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Spencer and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$80,533±$11kHighest about the U.S. average	$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S.
	Spencer and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$382,000±$22kHighest 15% above U.S.	$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,078±$161Lowest 24% below U.S.	$1,149±$44Highest 19% below U.S.
	Putnam and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,387Highest 41% above U.S.	$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.6%±10.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Spencer and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	63%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S.	1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 30% above U.S.	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	15%±7.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Spencer and Putnam 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	#261 of 282 in MA	#128 of 149 in CT
School district	Spencer-E Brookfield	Putnam School District
High school in town	David Prouty High	Putnam High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.9Highest	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.