Compare towns
Norfolk vs Putnam vs Plainfield vs Washington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Norfolk has the most people working from home (23.3%).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k median).
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 | Norfolk | Putnam | Plainfield | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,723Lowest |
9,292 |
15,141Highest |
3,676 |
| Median age | 48.2±7.4 17% above CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
49.9±5.5Highest 21% above CT |
| Washington and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±4.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
19%±4.7 CT: 20.2% |
| Plainfield and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.8%±3.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26.9%±5.3 CT: 18.5% |
| Norfolk and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6% CT: 42.5% |
20% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
53.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
6.4%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Washington and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,548±$16k 4% below CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
$101,549±$16kHighest 6% above CT |
| Washington and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $430,900±$54k 17% above CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$660,200±$130kHighest 80% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$116 20% below CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,204±$70Highest 19% below CT |
$1,204±$264Highest 19% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,065Highest 9% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
$4,709 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.3%±17 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
26.1%±24Lowest 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 | 7.5%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
79% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 29 yrs older than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 3% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
26 min 4% below CT |
| Work from home | 23.3%±4.7Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
20.1%±9 CT: 16% |
| Norfolk and Washington 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 | #17 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Norfolk School District | Putnam School District | Plainfield School District | Regional School District 12 |
| High school in town | None in town | Putnam High School | Plainfield High School | Shepaug Valley School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5 |
10.3Highest |
9.1Lowest |
| 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.