What stands out worked out from the figures below

Templeton has the most people working from home (16.9%).

Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).

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	Templeton	Putnam
People
Population	8,252Lowest	9,292Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.7% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	40.3±5.1Lowest 4% above U.S.	43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S.
	Putnam and Templeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.9%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22%	18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Templeton and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.7%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	18.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Putnam and Templeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.9%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Putnam and Templeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$101,154±$15kHighest 25% above U.S.	$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$358,500±$12kHighest 8% above U.S.	$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,207±$353Highest 15% below U.S.	$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S.
	Templeton and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,554Highest 46% above U.S.	$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.7%±26.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Templeton and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S.	1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 5% above U.S.	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	16.9%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Templeton 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	#244 of 282 in MA	#128 of 149 in CT
School district	Narragansett	Putnam School District
High school in town	Narragansett Regional 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.