Compare towns
Plainfield vs New Preston vs Killingly 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).
New Preston has the most people working from home (32.3%).
Killingly has the highest household income ($84k).
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 | New Preston | Killingly | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,141 |
1,146Lowest |
17,867Highest |
9,292 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -4.7% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
51.8±12.8Highest 26% above CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
| New Preston 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 CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±7Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Killingly and Plainfield 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% |
31.3%±5.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
57.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
20% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±4.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| New Preston 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 |
$76,406±$28k 20% below CT |
$84,350±$8kHighest 12% below CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
| Killingly 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 |
$452,600±$43kHighest 23% above CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70Highest 19% below CT |
— | $1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
| Plainfield and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,209Highest 37% below CT |
$3,528Lowest 47% below CT |
$3,922 41% below CT |
$3,860 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
7.4%±89.8Lowest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
| Killingly 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% |
15.8%Highest CT: 10% |
11.4% CT: 10% |
11.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% CT: 66.5% |
85.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
29 minHighest 8% above CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 10%±4 CT: 16% |
32.3%±28Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| New Preston and Killingly 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 | — | #136 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | — | Killingly High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
— | 11.1Highest |
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.