What stands out worked out from the figures below

Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).

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	Townsend	Putnam
People
Population	9,100Lowest	9,292Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.3% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S.	43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S.
	Putnam and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22%	18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Townsend and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	18.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Putnam and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Townsend and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S.	$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S.	$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S.	$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S.
	Townsend and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,031Highest 93% above U.S.	$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Townsend and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S.	1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 41% above U.S.	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	10.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Townsend 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	#136 of 282 in MA	#128 of 149 in CT
School district	North Middlesex	Putnam School District
High school in town	North Middlesex Regional	Putnam High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.1Highest	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.