What stands out worked out from the figures below

West Warwick has the most expensive homes ($331k median).

Putnam has the most people working from home (9%).

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 Warwick	Putnam
People
Population	31,173Highest	9,292Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.2% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	42.8±1.5Lowest 10% above U.S.	43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S.
	Putnam and West Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.7%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Putnam and West Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	West Warwick and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.7%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	West Warwick and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$77,608±$7kHighest 4% below U.S.	$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S.
	West Warwick and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$330,800±$12kHighest about the U.S. average	$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,303±$74Highest 8% below U.S.	$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,962Highest 59% above U.S.	$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.5%±7.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	West Warwick and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	57%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	59.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S.	1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest 5% below U.S.	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	7.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Putnam and West Warwick 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	#33 of 38 in RI	#128 of 149 in CT
School district	West Warwick	Putnam School District
High school in town	West Warwick High School	Putnam High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.0Highest	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.