Compare towns
Plainfield vs Naugatuck 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%).
Naugatuck has the most people working from home (15%).
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 | Naugatuck | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,141 |
31,800Highest |
9,292Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -1.1% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
39.8±2.4 3% below CT |
43.7±3Highest 6% above CT |
| Putnam and Naugatuck 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% |
19.9%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Naugatuck 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% |
15.6%±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% |
32.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
7.8%±1.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Naugatuck 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 |
$96,324±$9kHighest about the CT average |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,100±$16kHighest 26% below CT |
$259,100±$13kLowest 29% 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 |
$1,369±$58Highest 8% below CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,209 37% below CT |
$6,362Highest 4% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
42.2%±9.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Naugatuck 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% |
6.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
67.8% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
33 minHighest 26% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 10%±4 CT: 16% |
15%±2.8Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Naugatuck 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 | #116 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Naugatuck School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | Naugatuck High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
15.2Highest |
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.