Compare towns
Plainfield vs Bristol vs Putnam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Bristol has the most expensive homes ($485k median).
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 | Plainfield | Bristol | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,141 |
22,220Highest |
9,292Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
43±2.2 11% above U.S. |
43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.9%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bristol and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
18.6%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,993±$8k 5% below U.S. |
$97,764±$8kHighest 21% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
$485,000±$25kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,579±$118Highest 12% above U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,209 35% above U.S. |
$5,393Highest 73% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
66.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bristol 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #20 of 38 in RI | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Bristol Warren | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | Mt. Hope High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
12.5Highest |
9.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.