Compare towns
Dover vs Plainfield vs Putnam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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 | Dover | Plainfield | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,930Lowest |
15,141Highest |
9,292 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 44.9±2.3Highest 15% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
| Dover and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dover and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.7%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Putnam and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 84.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
20% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8k 5% below U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,917±$2kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Dover and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 34.2%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #1 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Plainfield School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Plainfield High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
10.3Highest |
9.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.