What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wareham has the most expensive homes ($425k median).

Putnam has the most kids (18.6% under 18).

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	Wareham	Putnam
People
Population	23,302Highest	9,292Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.8% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	52.1±3.1Highest 34% above U.S.	43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S.
Kids under 18	13.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Putnam and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.2%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	27.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Wareham and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$90,383±$11kHighest 12% above U.S.	$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$424,500±$21kHighest 28% above U.S.	$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,504±$180Highest 6% above U.S.	$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,341Highest 39% above U.S.	$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.4%±23.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Wareham and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S.	1961Highest 19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 4% above U.S.	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	12.4%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Wareham 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	#272 of 282 in MA	#128 of 149 in CT
School district	Wareham	Putnam School District
High school in town	Wareham Senior High	Putnam High School
Students per teacherat that high school	8.6Lowest	9.5Highest
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.