What stands out worked out from the figures below

Winchendon has the most homeowners (76.6%).

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	Winchendon	Putnam
People
Population	10,440Highest	9,292Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.6% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	39.6±1.9Lowest about the U.S. average	43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S.
	Putnam and Winchendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.8%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22%	18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Winchendon and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	18.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Putnam and Winchendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Winchendon and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$75,690±$14kHighest 6% below U.S.	$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S.
	Winchendon and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$323,800±$19kHighest about the U.S. average	$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,255±$163Highest 11% below U.S.	$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S.
	Winchendon and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,780Lowest 21% above U.S.	$3,860Highest 24% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	61.7%±17.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%	37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Winchendon and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	18.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	11.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 23% above U.S.	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	11.2%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Winchendon 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	#269 of 282 in MA	#128 of 149 in CT
School district	Winchendon	Putnam School District
High school in town	Murdock High School	Putnam High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.3Highest	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.