Compare towns
Plainfield vs Monroe vs Putnam vs Wauregan
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Monroe has the highest household income ($157k).
Putnam has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Wauregan has the youngest population (median age 32).
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 | Monroe | Putnam | Wauregan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,141 |
18,949Highest |
9,292 |
1,049Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | +27.7% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 37±4.5 10% below CT |
43.5±2.2 6% above CT |
43.7±3Highest 6% above CT |
32±5.9Lowest 22% below CT |
| Putnam and Monroe 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% |
25.2%±3 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
25.6%±9.8Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Wauregan and Monroe 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% |
15.6%±2 CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
10.2%±5.4Lowest 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% |
57.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20% CT: 42.5% |
18.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
3.1%±3.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Plainfield and Monroe 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 |
$157,250±$12kHighest 64% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$79,545±$18k 17% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$503,200±$31kHighest 37% above CT |
$269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
$262,700±$15kLowest 28% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$994±$860Lowest 33% below CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
$1,254±$476Highest 16% below CT |
| Wauregan 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$3,860 42% below CT |
$3,649Lowest 45% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
48.8%±46.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
22.4%±19.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Monroe 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% |
2.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% CT: 66.5% |
95.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
60.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
34 minHighest 29% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
31 min 17% above CT |
| Work from home | 10%±4 CT: 16% |
15.4%±3.3Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
6.8%±7.6Lowest CT: 16% |
| Monroe 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 | #48 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Monroe School District | Putnam School District | — |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | Masuk High School | Putnam High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
12.8Highest |
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.