Compare towns
Plainfield vs Durham 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 youngest population (median age 37).
Durham has the highest household income ($159k).
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 | Durham | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,141Highest |
7,208Lowest |
9,292 |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
45.5±2.8Highest 11% above CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
| Durham 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% |
16.4%±3.6Lowest 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% |
17.4%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Putnam and Durham 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% |
47.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Plainfield and Putnam 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 |
$158,857±$7kHighest 66% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$424,800±$23kHighest 16% above CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70Highest 19% below CT |
$1,154±$448 22% below CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
| Plainfield and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,209 37% below CT |
$7,998Highest 20% above CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±28.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Durham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% CT: 10% |
3.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% CT: 66.5% |
93.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the CT average |
23 minLowest 13% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 10%±4 CT: 16% |
20.5%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #131 of 149 in CT | #88 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Regional School District 13 | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | Coginchaug Regional High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Highest |
8.9Lowest |
9.5 |
| 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.