What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wakefield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).

Putnam has the most affordable homes ($245k 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	Wakefield	Putnam
People
Population	27,793Highest	7,120Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.4±1.7Highest 9% above U.S.	41.2±5.1Lowest 6% above U.S.
	Wakefield and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22%	18.9%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Wakefield and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19%±1.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%	17%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Wakefield and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	59.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	18.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Wakefield and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$134,306±$14kHighest 66% above U.S.	$65,511±$7kLowest 19% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$723,500±$24kHighest 117% above U.S.	$245,100±$13kLowest 26% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,958±$102Highest 39% above U.S.	$1,147±$43Lowest 19% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,779Highest 149% above U.S.	$3,564Lowest 14% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.7%±7.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	38.2%±12.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Wakefield and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	11.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956 24 yrs older than U.S.	1956 24 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 26% above U.S.	25 minLowest 5% below U.S.
Work from home	24.6%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	6.7%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#179 of 282 in MA	#128 of 149 in CT
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.