Compare towns

Beacon Falls 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

Beacon Falls 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.

MeasureBeacon FallsPutnamPlainfield
People
Population
6,147Lowest
9,292
15,141Highest
Median age
48.4±3.8Highest
18% above CT
43.7±3
6% above CT
37±4.5Lowest
10% below CT
Beacon Falls and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18%±4.8Lowest
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+
23.5%±4.4Highest
CT: 18.5%
18.5%±3.1
CT: 18.5%
16.6%±2.4Lowest
CT: 18.5%
Beacon Falls and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
44.6%Highest
CT: 42.5%
20%
CT: 42.5%
15%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.3%±3.2
CT: 7.1%
3.9%±1.4Lowest
CT: 7.1%
5.6%±1.8Highest
CT: 7.1%
Plainfield and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$101,516±$42kHighest
6% above CT
$70,561±$7kLowest
26% below CT
$76,993±$8k
20% below CT
Beacon Falls and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$350,300±$34kHighest
5% below CT
$269,200±$11kLowest
27% below CT
$272,100±$16k
26% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,921±$286Highest
29% above CT
$1,149±$44Lowest
23% below CT
$1,204±$70
19% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,534Highest
about the CT average
$3,860Lowest
42% below CT
$4,209
37% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50.7%±30.4Highest
CT: 52.6%
37.7%±11.6Lowest
CT: 52.6%
39.8%±9.5
CT: 52.6%
Beacon Falls and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.1%Lowest
CT: 10%
11.5%Highest
CT: 10%
8.7%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.5%Highest
CT: 66.5%
59.8%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
73.6%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985Highest
18 yrs newer than CT
1961Lowest
6 yrs older than CT
1971
4 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
23% above CT
25 minLowest
6% below CT
27 min
about the CT average
Work from home
20.3%±7.4Highest
CT: 16%
9%±2.8Lowest
CT: 16%
10%±4
CT: 16%
Beacon Falls 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 #77 of 149 in CT #128 of 149 in CT #131 of 149 in CT
School district Regional School District 16 Putnam School District Plainfield School District
High school in town Woodland Regional High School Putnam High School Plainfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.2Highest
9.5Lowest
10.3
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.