Compare towns
Plainfield vs Derby vs Putnam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the most homeowners (73.6%).
Derby has the most people working from home (15.1%).
Putnam has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Derby | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,141Highest |
12,487 |
9,292Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -4.5% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
46.4±3.1Highest 13% above CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
| Derby and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
| 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 CT: 18.5% |
21.1%±3.9Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
| Derby 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 CT: 42.5% |
35.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Derby 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 20% below CT |
$79,500±$11kHighest 17% below CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
| Derby and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,100±$16kHighest 26% below CT |
$256,700±$21kLowest 30% 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 | $1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,452±$95Highest about the CT average |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,209 37% below CT |
$5,510Highest 17% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
53.9%±12.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Derby and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.8% CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
61.9% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1967 same as CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 10%±4 CT: 16% |
15.1%±4.8Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Derby 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 | #138 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Derby School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | Derby High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Highest |
9.7 |
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.