Compare towns
Middletown vs Putnam vs Plainfield vs East Hampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middletown has the most renters (47.1% rent).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
East Hampton has the highest household income ($125k).
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 | Middletown | Putnam | Plainfield | East Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 47,958Highest |
9,292Lowest |
15,141 |
12,925 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% CT: +0.9% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 38.1±1.5 7% below CT |
43.7±3Highest 6% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
43.6±3.7 6% above CT |
| Putnam and East Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.3%±1.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
21.4%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
| East Hampton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
20.8%±2.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
| East Hampton and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
39% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.5%±1.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.2%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,438±$6k 17% below CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
$124,577±$11kHighest 30% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,300±$11k 20% below CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$349,000±$14kHighest 5% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,446±$45Highest about the CT average |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,393±$150 6% below CT |
| Middletown and East Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,412 3% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
$6,681Highest about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±5.3 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
48.7%±16.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
| East Hampton and Middletown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12%Highest CT: 10% |
11.5% CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
59.8% CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
85.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1977Highest 10 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 12% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
30 minHighest 11% above CT |
| Work from home | 14.1%±1.8Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
12.7%±2.4 CT: 16% |
| Middletown and East Hampton 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 | #121 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #75 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services | Putnam School District | Plainfield School District | East Hampton School District |
| High school in town | Middletown High School | Putnam High School | Plainfield High School | East Hampton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Highest |
9.5Lowest |
10.3 |
11.3 |
| 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.