Compare towns
Ashford vs Plainfield vs Putnam vs Franklin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashford has the most people working from home (19.3%).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Franklin has the most kids (27.2% 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.
| Measure | Ashford | Plainfield | Putnam | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,226 |
15,141Highest |
9,292 |
2,004Lowest |
| Median age | 37.9±10.3 8% below CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
43.7±3Highest 6% above CT |
40.3±4.3 about the CT average |
| Putnam and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±5.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
27.2%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Franklin and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.9%±3.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
| Ashford and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
20% CT: 42.5% |
27.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Plainfield and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $121,926±$23kHighest 27% above CT |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$105,000±$10k 10% above CT |
| Ashford and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $334,800±$18kHighest 9% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$326,200±$20k 11% below CT |
| Ashford and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,246±$208Highest 16% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
$767±$529Lowest 48% below CT |
| Ashford and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,982Highest 5% above CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$3,934 41% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47%±26Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
19.5%±18.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Ashford and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8% CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
84.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1973 6 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±5.5Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
6.8%±2.4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Ashford and Plainfield 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 | #90 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Ashford School District | Plainfield School District | Putnam School District | Franklin School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Plainfield High School | Putnam High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3Highest |
9.5Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
CT 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.