Compare towns
Plainfield vs Killingly vs Columbia 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).
Killingly has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
Columbia has the most people working from home (21.6%).
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 | Killingly | Columbia | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,141 |
17,867Highest |
5,300Lowest |
9,292 |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
51.3±10.3Highest 25% above CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
| Columbia and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
13.7%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Killingly and Plainfield 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% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
24.9%±5.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
| Columbia 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 CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
34.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
4.8%±2.5 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Plainfield and Killingly 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 |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$127,000±$30kHighest 33% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$361,500±$16kHighest about the CT average |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70Highest 19% below CT |
$1,044±$141 30% below CT |
$966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
| Plainfield and Putnam 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 |
$3,922 41% below CT |
$5,228Highest 21% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
| Killingly 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% |
11.4% CT: 10% |
6.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
83.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
28 min 5% above CT |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 10%±4 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #131 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #114 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Columbia School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | Killingly High School | None in town | 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 |
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.