Compare towns
Norwich vs Putnam vs Plainfield vs Preston
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 kids (20.9% under 18).
Putnam has the most renters (49.3% rent).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Preston has the highest household income ($117k).
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 | Putnam | Plainfield | Preston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 39,973Highest |
7,120 |
15,141 |
4,821Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Highest CT: +0.9% |
-2.1%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 38.5±1.7 6% below CT |
41.2±5.1 about the CT average |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
46.2±7Highest 12% above CT |
| Preston and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±1.8Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.9%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4Lowest 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% |
17%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Preston and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.1% CT: 42.5% |
18.8% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
28.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $65,024±$5kLowest 32% below CT |
$65,511±$7k 32% below CT |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
$116,648±$27kHighest 22% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,300±$11kLowest 34% below CT |
$245,100±$13k 33% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$361,900±$13kHighest about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,253±$68 16% below CT |
$1,147±$43Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,433±$1kHighest 4% below CT |
| Preston and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,703 29% below CT |
$3,564Lowest 46% below CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
$4,749Highest 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.2%±7.2Highest CT: 52.6% |
38.2%±12.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5 CT: 52.6% |
| Norwich and Preston 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% |
11.7% CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8% CT: 66.5% |
50.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957 10 yrs older than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below CT |
25 min 5% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
| Work from home | 7.2%±2 CT: 16% |
6.7%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
10.3%±6Highest CT: 16% |
| Preston 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 | #133 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #93 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District | — | Plainfield School District | Preston School District |
| High school in town | Norwich Free Academy | — | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
— | 10.3Lowest |
— |
| 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.