Compare towns
Monroe 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
Monroe has the highest household income ($157k).
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 | Monroe | Plainfield | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,949Highest |
15,141 |
9,292Lowest |
| Median age | 43.5±2.2 6% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
43.7±3Highest 6% above CT |
| Putnam and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25.2%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 15.6%±2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Putnam and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
20% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Plainfield and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $157,250±$12kHighest 64% above CT |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $503,200±$31kHighest 37% above CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $994±$860Lowest 33% below CT |
$1,204±$70Highest 19% below CT |
$1,149±$44 23% 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 | $10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±46.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Monroe and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 15.4%±3.3Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Monroe 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 | #48 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Monroe School District | Plainfield School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Masuk High School | Plainfield High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
10.3 |
9.5Lowest |
| 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.