Compare towns
Griswold vs Middlefield vs Plainfield vs Putnam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlefield has the most expensive homes ($376k 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 | Griswold | Middlefield | Plainfield | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,530 |
4,243Lowest |
15,141Highest |
9,292 |
| Median age | 48.1±3.9 17% above CT |
51.6±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
| Middlefield and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±3.7 CT: 20.2% |
13.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 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+ | 17.8%±3.5 CT: 18.5% |
25.5%±7.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
| Middlefield and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.9% CT: 42.5% |
41.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
20% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.7%±2.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Middlefield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,719±$11k 18% below CT |
$99,837±$20kHighest 4% above CT |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
| Middlefield and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $275,900±$42k 25% below CT |
$376,000±$27kHighest about the CT average |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,177±$65 21% below CT |
$3,501Highest 135% above CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,628 30% below CT |
$6,853Highest 3% above CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±15.5 CT: 52.6% |
85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Middlefield and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.1% CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.3% CT: 66.5% |
86.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 10 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 9%±3.6Lowest CT: 16% |
10.9%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Middlefield 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 | #118 of 149 in CT | #65 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Griswold School District | Regional School District 13 | Plainfield School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Griswold High School | None in town | Plainfield High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
— | 10.3 |
9.5Lowest |
| 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.