Compare towns
Springfield vs Preston vs Putnam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Springfield has the most kids (24.2% under 18).
Preston has the highest household income ($117k).
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.
| Measure | Springfield | Preston | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 154,749Highest |
4,821Lowest |
9,292 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 33.7±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
46.2±7Highest 19% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
| Preston and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.2%±0.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 13.2%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Preston and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±0.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Springfield and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $52,656±$2kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$116,648±$27kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7k 13% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,000±$4kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$361,900±$13kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11k 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,144±$55Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,433±$1kHighest about the U.S. average |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
| Preston and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,695Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,749Highest 52% above U.S. |
$3,860 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±3.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Springfield and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 25.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Highest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Preston 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 | #276 of 282 in MA | #93 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Springfield | Preston School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Springfield Central High | None in town | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
— | 9.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.