What stands out worked out from the figures below

Springfield has the most kids (24.2% under 18).

Putnam has the highest household income ($71k).

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	Springfield	Putnam
People
Population	154,749Highest	9,292Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.9% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	33.7±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S.	43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S.
Kids under 18	24.2%±0.9Highest U.S.: 22%	18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	13.2%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	18.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	20.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.5%±0.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$52,656±$2kLowest 35% below U.S.	$70,561±$7kHighest 13% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$245,000±$4kLowest 26% below U.S.	$269,200±$11kHighest 19% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,144±$55Lowest 19% below U.S.	$1,149±$44Highest 19% below U.S.
	Putnam and Springfield 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.	$3,860Highest 24% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.7%±3.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	25.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	11.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	49.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	59.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S.	1961Highest 19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 23% below U.S.	25 minHighest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	8.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Putnam and Springfield 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	#128 of 149 in CT
School district	Springfield	Putnam School District
High school in town	Springfield Central High	Putnam High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2Highest	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.