What stands out worked out from the figures below

Tyngsborough has the most people working from home (18.6%).

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	Tyngsborough	Putnam
People
Population	12,550Highest	9,292Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.6% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average	43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S.
	Putnam and Tyngsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.6%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22%	18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Tyngsborough and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.7%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	18.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Putnam and Tyngsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	51.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$129,348±$18kHighest 60% above U.S.	$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$552,500±$34kHighest 66% above U.S.	$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,986±$404Highest 41% above U.S.	$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,426Highest 138% above U.S.	$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	72.2%±22.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	6.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S.	1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 9% below U.S.	25 minHighest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	18.6%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#174 of 282 in MA	#128 of 149 in CT
School district	Greater Lowell Regional Vocational Technical · Tyngsborough	Putnam School District
High school in town	Gr Lowell Regional Vocational Technical	Putnam High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.2Highest	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.