What stands out worked out from the figures below

West Brookfield has the most people working from home (18.9%).

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	West Brookfield	Putnam
People
Population	3,859Lowest	9,292Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.6% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	58.5±3.2Highest 50% above U.S.	43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S.
Kids under 18	13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Putnam and West Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	35.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.2%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.9%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$95,613±$12kHighest 18% above U.S.	$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$354,000±$21kHighest 6% above U.S.	$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,236±$271Highest 13% below U.S.	$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S.
	West Brookfield and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,260Highest 37% above U.S.	$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	30.3%±18.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	37.7%±11.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Putnam and West Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Highest 13 yrs older than U.S.	1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	42 minHighest 58% above U.S.	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	18.9%±15Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	West Brookfield 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	#162 of 282 in MA	#128 of 149 in CT
School district	Quaboag Regional	Putnam School District
High school in town	None in town	Putnam High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	9.5
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.