Compare towns
Plainfield vs Orange 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).
Orange has the most expensive homes ($492k 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 | Orange | Killingly | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,141 |
14,315 |
17,867Highest |
9,292Lowest |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
45.6±2.4Highest 11% above CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
| Orange 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% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Orange 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% |
23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
| Orange and Killingly 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% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
20% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Plainfield and Orange 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 |
$142,325±$10kHighest 49% above CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,209 37% below CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$3,922 41% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Orange and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% CT: 10% |
3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.4% CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% CT: 66.5% |
89.2%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 |
1964 3 yrs older 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 |
28 min 4% above CT |
28 minHighest 5% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 10%±4 CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Orange 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 | #38 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | None in town | 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.