Compare towns
Franklin vs Putnam vs Plainfield vs Sterling
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Franklin has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Sterling has the most people working from home (11.6%).
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 | Franklin | Putnam | Plainfield | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,004Lowest |
9,292 |
15,141Highest |
3,629 |
| Median age | 40.3±4.3 about the CT average |
43.7±3Highest 6% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
| Putnam and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 27.2%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9 CT: 20.2% |
| Franklin and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Putnam and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
18% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Plainfield and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $105,000±$10kHighest 10% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
$102,695±$12k 7% above CT |
| Franklin and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $326,200±$20kHighest 11% below CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $767±$529Lowest 48% below CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
$1,204±$70Highest 19% below CT |
— |
| Plainfield and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,934 41% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
$4,551Highest 31% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.5%±18.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1 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 | 8.7% CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
8.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 6 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
| Work from home | 6.8%±2.4Lowest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
| Sterling 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 | — | #128 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Franklin School District | Putnam School District | Plainfield School District | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Putnam High School | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5Lowest |
10.3Highest |
— |
| 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.