Compare towns
Plainfield vs Exeter vs Wauregan 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
Exeter has the most expensive homes ($509k median).
Wauregan has the most kids (25.6% under 18).
Putnam has the oldest population (median age 43.7).
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 | Exeter | Wauregan | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,141Highest |
7,195 |
1,049Lowest |
9,292 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+27.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 37±4.5 5% below U.S. |
37.7±5.9 3% below U.S. |
32±5.9Lowest 18% below U.S. |
43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Exeter 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% |
19.7%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
25.6%±9.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Wauregan and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
10.2%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Putnam and Exeter 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% |
46.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
20% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter 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. |
$111,250±$30kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$79,545±$18k about the U.S. average |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Wauregan 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. |
$509,200±$43kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$262,700±$15kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$269,200±$11k 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,317±$307Highest 7% below U.S. |
$1,254±$476 11% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Wauregan 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. |
$5,881Highest 89% above U.S. |
$3,649Lowest 17% above U.S. |
$3,860 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
22.4%±19.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
60.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1964 16 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 |
22 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.8%±7.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter 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 | #14 of 38 in RI | — | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Exeter-West Greenwich | — | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | None in town | — | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Highest |
— | — | 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.