Compare towns
Norwalk 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
Norwalk has the most expensive homes ($558k median).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (73.6%).
Putnam has the oldest population (median age 43.7).
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 | Norwalk | Plainfield | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 92,187Highest |
15,141 |
9,292Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 40.6±1 about the CT average |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
43.7±3Highest 6% above CT |
| Putnam and Norwalk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±1.2 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Plainfield and Norwalk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17%±1 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Putnam and Norwalk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
20% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±0.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Norwalk and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,616±$7kHighest 12% above CT |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $558,000±$21kHighest 52% above CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,073±$87Highest 39% above CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,817Highest 18% above CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.1%±5.2Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Norwalk and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.1% CT: 10% |
8.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 same as CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the CT average |
27 min about the CT average |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±1.4Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Norwalk 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 | #112 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Norwalk School District | Plainfield School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Brien McMahon High School | Plainfield High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
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.