What stands out worked out from the figures below

Worcester has the most expensive homes ($374k median).

Putnam has the most homeowners (59.8%).

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	Worcester	Putnam
People
Population	207,055Highest	9,292Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.1% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	33.9±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S.	43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S.
Kids under 18	19.6%±0.8Highest U.S.: 22%	18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Worcester and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	13.3%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	18.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	14.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$70,102±$2kLowest 13% below U.S.	$70,561±$7kHighest 13% below U.S.
	Putnam and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$374,400±$7kHighest 13% above U.S.	$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,487±$38Highest 5% above U.S.	$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,733Highest 52% above U.S.	$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.2%±2.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	11.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	42.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	59.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S.	1961Highest 19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 9% below U.S.	25 minHighest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	11.5%±1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Worcester 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	#266 of 282 in MA	#128 of 149 in CT
School district	Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester	Putnam School District
High school in town	South High Community	Putnam High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.6Highest	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.