Compare towns
Plainfield vs Meriden 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%).
Meriden has the most kids (21.9% 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 | Meriden | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,141 |
60,545Highest |
9,292Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | 0% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
38.9±1.3 5% below CT |
43.7±3Highest 6% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
21.9%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Meriden and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
16.2%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Putnam and Plainfield 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% |
22.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±0.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,993±$8kHighest 20% below CT |
$71,253±$4k 26% below CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
| Plainfield and Meriden 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 |
$241,200±$7kLowest 34% 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 |
$1,294±$72Highest 13% below CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
| Meriden and Plainfield 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 |
$5,129Highest 23% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
53.4%±4.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Meriden 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% |
13.2%Highest CT: 10% |
11.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
60.1% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
1961 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%±4Highest CT: 16% |
8.6%±1.6Lowest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
| Plainfield and Putnam 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 | #124 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Meriden School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | Francis T. Maloney High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
16.2Highest |
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.