Compare towns

Barkhamsted 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

Barkhamsted has the most people working from home (20.3%).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).

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.

MeasureBarkhamstedPutnamPlainfield
People
Population
3,678Lowest
9,292
15,141Highest
Median age
50.2±3.3Highest
22% above CT
43.7±3
6% above CT
37±4.5Lowest
10% below CT
Kids under 18
16.4%±3.9Lowest
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+
27.2%±7.1Highest
CT: 18.5%
18.5%±3.1
CT: 18.5%
16.6%±2.4Lowest
CT: 18.5%
Barkhamsted and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
54.3%Highest
CT: 42.5%
20%
CT: 42.5%
15%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.3%±2.7
CT: 7.1%
3.9%±1.4Lowest
CT: 7.1%
5.6%±1.8Highest
CT: 7.1%
Plainfield and Barkhamsted are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$123,544±$9kHighest
29% above CT
$70,561±$7kLowest
26% below CT
$76,993±$8k
20% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$368,000±$15kHighest
about the CT average
$269,200±$11kLowest
27% below CT
$272,100±$16k
26% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,164±$114
22% below CT
$1,149±$44Lowest
23% below CT
$1,204±$70Highest
19% below CT
Plainfield and Barkhamsted are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,354Highest
4% below CT
$3,860Lowest
42% below CT
$4,209
37% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
28.8%±35.4Lowest
CT: 52.6%
37.7%±11.6
CT: 52.6%
39.8%±9.5Highest
CT: 52.6%
Plainfield and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.6%Lowest
CT: 10%
11.5%Highest
CT: 10%
8.7%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.9%Highest
CT: 66.5%
59.8%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
73.6%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978Highest
11 yrs newer than CT
1961Lowest
6 yrs older than CT
1971
4 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
6% above CT
25 minLowest
6% below CT
27 min
about the CT average
Work from home
20.3%±7.1Highest
CT: 16%
9%±2.8Lowest
CT: 16%
10%±4
CT: 16%
Barkhamsted 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 #63 of 149 in CT #128 of 149 in CT #131 of 149 in CT
School district Barkhamsted 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.