Compare towns
Plainfield vs Middlefield 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).
Middlefield has the most expensive homes ($376k median).
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 | Middlefield | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,141Highest |
4,243Lowest |
9,292 |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
51.6±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
13.9%±4.1Lowest 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% |
25.5%±7.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
| Middlefield and Putnam 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% |
41.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.7%±2.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Middlefield 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 20% below CT |
$99,837±$20kHighest 4% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
| Middlefield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$376,000±$27kHighest about the CT average |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$3,501Highest 135% above CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,209 37% below CT |
$6,853Highest 3% above CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Middlefield 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% |
8.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% CT: 66.5% |
86.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the CT average |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 10%±4 CT: 16% |
10.9%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Middlefield 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 | #65 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 | 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 |
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.