What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wolcott has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).

Putnam has the highest household income ($92k).

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	Wolcott	Putnam
People
Population	1,507Highest	540Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-6.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.4±5.9Lowest 9% above U.S.	53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S.
	Putnam and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.8%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22%	17.4%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Wolcott and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	11.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	31.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Wolcott and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$70,259±$10kLowest 13% below U.S.	$92,344±$14kHighest 14% above U.S.
	Putnam and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$221,300±$23kLowest 33% below U.S.	$266,200±$48kHighest 20% below U.S.
	Putnam and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,059±$118 25% below U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,930Highest 26% above U.S.	$3,674Lowest 18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	75.7%±21.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Wolcott and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the U.S. average	21 minLowest 19% below U.S.
Work from home	13.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Wolcott and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Wolcott School District	PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	None in town	None in town
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.