Compare towns

Plainfield vs Calais vs Killingly 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).
Calais has the most people working from home (23.4%).
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.

MeasurePlainfieldCalaisKillinglyPutnam
People
Population
15,141
1,713Lowest
17,867Highest
9,292
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+3.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
— —
Median age
37±4.5Lowest
5% below U.S.
42±8.6
8% above U.S.
39.5±3
about the U.S. average
43.7±3Highest
12% above U.S.
Putnam and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.4%±2.6
U.S.: 22%
22.5%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Calais and Killingly 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%
21.6%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
18.5%±3.1
U.S.: 17.2%
Calais and Killingly 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%
55.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
22.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
20%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
7.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Calais and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$76,993±$8k
5% below U.S.
$100,625±$27kHighest
25% above U.S.
$84,350±$8k
4% above U.S.
$70,561±$7kLowest
13% below U.S.
Calais and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$272,100±$16k
18% below U.S.
$390,300±$36kHighest
17% above U.S.
$288,600±$15k
13% below U.S.
$269,200±$11kLowest
19% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,204±$70
15% below U.S.
$1,408±$392Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
$1,149±$44
19% below U.S.
Calais and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,209
35% above U.S.
$6,586Highest
111% above U.S.
$3,922
26% above U.S.
$3,860Lowest
24% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
39.8%±9.5
U.S.: 51.1%
49%±38.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.8%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
37.7%±11.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Calais and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
92.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
59.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the U.S. average
31 minHighest
18% above U.S.
28 min
6% above U.S.
25 minLowest
6% below U.S.
Work from home
10%±4
U.S.: 15.1%
23.4%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
9%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #131 of 149 in CT — #136 of 149 in CT #128 of 149 in CT
School district Plainfield School District Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Putnam School District
High school in town Plainfield High School None in town Killingly High School Putnam High School
Students per teacherat that high school
10.3
—
11.1Highest
9.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.