Compare towns
Plainfield vs Norwich vs Putnam vs Killingly
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).
Norwich has the most renters (46.2% rent).
Putnam has the oldest population (median age 43.7).
Killingly has the most people working from home (11.1%).
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 | Norwich | Putnam | Killingly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,141 |
39,973Highest |
9,292Lowest |
17,867 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -0.9% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
38.5±1.7 6% below CT |
43.7±3Highest 6% above CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
| Putnam and Killingly 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% |
20.9%±1.8Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
| Norwich and Killingly 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% |
16.9%±1.7 CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Killingly 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% |
23.1%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20% CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
$65,024±$5kLowest 32% below CT |
$70,561±$7k 26% below CT |
$84,350±$8kHighest 12% 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 |
$242,300±$11kLowest 34% below CT |
$269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
$288,600±$15kHighest 21% below CT |
| Killingly and Plainfield 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 |
$1,253±$68Highest 16% below CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
| Norwich 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 |
$4,703Highest 29% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$3,922 41% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
56.2%±7.2Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
| Norwich and Killingly 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% |
16.7%Highest CT: 10% |
11.5% CT: 10% |
11.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
53.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
59.8% CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1957Lowest 10 yrs older than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
24 minLowest 9% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
28 minHighest 5% above CT |
| Work from home | 10%±4 CT: 16% |
7.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3Highest CT: 16% |
| Killingly 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 | #133 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District | Putnam School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | Norwich Free Academy | Putnam High School | Killingly High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
14.8Highest |
9.5Lowest |
11.1 |
| 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.