What stands out worked out from the figures below

Warren has the most expensive homes ($334k median).

Putnam has the shortest commute (25 min average).

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	Warren	Putnam
People
Population	5,009Lowest	9,292Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.1% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	38.7±7.3Lowest about the U.S. average	43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S.
	Putnam and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.8%±8Highest U.S.: 22%	18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Warren and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.6%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	18.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Putnam and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	23.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.9%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Putnam and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$66,082±$6kLowest 18% below U.S.	$70,561±$7kHighest 13% below U.S.
	Putnam and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$333,700±$35kHighest about the U.S. average	$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$890±$174Lowest 37% below U.S.	$1,149±$44Highest 19% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,530Highest 45% above U.S.	$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	29.7%±18.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	37.7%±11.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Putnam and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	64.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S.	1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	8.5%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Putnam and Warren 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	#165 of 282 in MA	#128 of 149 in CT
School district	Quaboag Regional	Putnam School District
High school in town	Quaboag Regional High	Putnam High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.0Highest	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.