Compare towns
Norwich 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
Norwich has the most renters (46.2% rent).
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 | Norwich | Plainfield | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 39,973Highest |
15,141 |
9,292Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 38.5±1.7 6% below CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
43.7±3Highest 6% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±1.8Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Norwich and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±1.7 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Putnam and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.1%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
20% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $65,024±$5kLowest 32% below CT |
$76,993±$8kHighest 20% below CT |
$70,561±$7k 26% below CT |
| Plainfield and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,300±$11kLowest 34% below CT |
$272,100±$16kHighest 26% below CT |
$269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
| Plainfield and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,253±$68Highest 16% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
| Norwich and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,703Highest 29% below CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.2%±7.2Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Norwich and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.7%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 10 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
25 min 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 7.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
10%±4Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
| Plainfield and Putnam 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 | #133 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District | Plainfield School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Norwich Free Academy | Plainfield High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
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.