Compare towns
Plainfield vs Putnam vs Sheffield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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).
Sheffield has the most expensive homes ($409k median).
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 | Putnam | Sheffield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,141Highest |
9,292 |
3,330Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
48.2±8Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Sheffield and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
13.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sheffield 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
20% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±4.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Sheffield 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 5% below U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$92,120±$31kHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Sheffield 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 18% below U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$409,400±$32kHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,837±$1kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Sheffield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,209 35% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$4,520Highest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±21.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield and Putnam 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 | #250 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Putnam School District | Southern Berkshire |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | Putnam High School | Mt Everett Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Highest |
9.5 |
7.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.