Compare towns
Ashford vs Putnam vs Plainfield
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%).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Plainfield has the most kids (19.4% 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 | Putnam | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,226Lowest |
9,292 |
15,141Highest |
| Median age | 37.9±10.3 8% below CT |
43.7±3Highest 6% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
| Putnam and Ashford 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% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Plainfield and Putnam 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% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest 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% |
20% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest 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 |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $334,800±$18kHighest 9% below CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,246±$208Highest 16% below CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% 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 |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47%±26Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 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% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±5.5Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
10%±4 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Ashford School District | Putnam School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Putnam High School | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5Lowest |
10.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.