What stands out worked out from the figures below

Taunton has the most expensive homes ($423k 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	Taunton	Putnam
People
Population	60,433Highest	9,292Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.3% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	38.9±1.3Lowest about the U.S. average	43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S.
Kids under 18	21.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22%	18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Taunton and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	18.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Putnam and Taunton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	23.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±0.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Taunton and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$79,283±$7kHighest about the U.S. average	$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S.
	Taunton and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$422,800±$9kHighest 27% above U.S.	$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,324±$86Highest 6% below U.S.	$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,344Highest 39% above U.S.	$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	13%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	11.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	62.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1965Highest 15 yrs older than U.S.	1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 11% above U.S.	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Putnam and Taunton 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	#253 of 282 in MA	#128 of 149 in CT
School district	Bristol-Plymouth Regional Vocational Technical · Taunton	Putnam School District
High school in town	Taunton High	Putnam High School
Students per teacherat that high school	16.6Highest	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.