Compare towns

Plainfield vs Putnam vs Quinebaug

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).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Quinebaug has the most people working from home (23.3%).

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.

MeasurePlainfieldPutnamQuinebaug
People
Population
15,141Highest
9,292
1,193Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — —
-1.7%
CT: +0.9%
Median age
37±4.5Lowest
10% below CT
43.7±3
6% above CT
56.5±1Highest
37% above CT
Kids under 18
19.4%±2.6Highest
CT: 20.2%
18.6%±3.6
CT: 20.2%
0%±3.3Lowest
CT: 20.2%
Plainfield and Putnam 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%
18.5%±3.1
CT: 18.5%
29.1%±9.8Highest
CT: 18.5%
Quinebaug 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%
CT: 42.5%
20%Highest
CT: 42.5%
10.3%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1.8Highest
CT: 7.1%
3.9%±1.4
CT: 7.1%
1.3%±2.4Lowest
CT: 7.1%
Plainfield and Putnam 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
$70,561±$7kLowest
26% below CT
$105,181±$36kHighest
10% above CT
Quinebaug 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±$16kHighest
26% below CT
$269,200±$11k
27% below CT
$237,800±$66kLowest
35% 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±$70Highest
19% below CT
$1,149±$44Lowest
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
$3,860
42% below CT
$3,703Lowest
44% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
39.8%±9.5Highest
CT: 52.6%
37.7%±11.6
CT: 52.6%
0%±100Lowest
CT: 52.6%
Plainfield and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.7%
CT: 10%
11.5%Highest
CT: 10%
1.3%Lowest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.6%
CT: 66.5%
59.8%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
97%Highest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971Highest
4 yrs newer than CT
1961
6 yrs older than CT
1960Lowest
7 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minHighest
about the CT average
25 minLowest
6% below CT
26 min
about the CT average
Work from home
10%±4
CT: 16%
9%±2.8Lowest
CT: 16%
23.3%±17.9Highest
CT: 16%
Quinebaug 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 #128 of 149 in CT —
School district Plainfield School District Putnam School District —
High school in town Plainfield High School Putnam High School —
Students per teacherat that high school
10.3Highest
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.