Compare towns

Plainfield vs Killingly vs Sturbridge 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).
Sturbridge has the most people working from home (19.8%).
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.

MeasurePlainfieldKillinglySturbridgePutnam
People
Population
15,141
17,867Highest
9,960
9,292Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — —
+6.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
37±4.5Lowest
5% below U.S.
39.5±3
about the U.S. average
47.2±2.6Highest
21% above U.S.
43.7±3
12% above U.S.
Sturbridge 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
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
20.7%±3Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Sturbridge 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%
19.7%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.5%±3.1
U.S.: 17.2%
Sturbridge 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%
22.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
49.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
20%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
4.6%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
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
5% below U.S.
$84,350±$8k
4% above U.S.
$136,759±$15kHighest
69% above U.S.
$70,561±$7kLowest
13% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$272,100±$16k
18% below U.S.
$288,600±$15k
13% below U.S.
$425,800±$18kHighest
28% above U.S.
$269,200±$11kLowest
19% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,204±$70Highest
15% below U.S.
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
$1,193±$398
16% below U.S.
$1,149±$44
19% below U.S.
Plainfield and Sturbridge 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.
$3,922
26% above U.S.
$6,520Highest
109% above U.S.
$3,860Lowest
24% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
39.8%±9.5
U.S.: 51.1%
42.8%±10.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
42%±17.7
U.S.: 51.1%
37.7%±11.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Killingly and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
59.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the U.S. average
28 min
6% above U.S.
38 minHighest
43% above U.S.
25 minLowest
6% below U.S.
Work from home
10%±4
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
19.8%±4.8Highest
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 #89 of 282 in MA #128 of 149 in CT
School district Plainfield School District Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Sturbridge · Tantasqua Putnam School District
High school in town Plainfield High School Killingly High School Tantasqua Regional Sr High Putnam High School
Students per teacherat that high school
10.3
11.1Highest
7.7Lowest
9.5
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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.