Compare towns
Plainfield vs Putnam vs Stafford
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).
Stafford has the highest household income ($93k).
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 | Stafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,141Highest |
9,292Lowest |
11,511 |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
46.7±4.8Highest 14% above CT |
| Stafford 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% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
21.5%±3.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Stafford 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% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
22%±3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Stafford 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% |
20% CT: 42.5% |
28.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
3.5%±1.3Lowest 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 |
$93,235±$16kHighest about the CT average |
| Stafford 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 |
$263,800±$22kLowest 28% 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±$44 23% below CT |
$1,086±$85Lowest 27% 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 | $4,209 37% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$5,131Highest 23% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
41.5%±12.2Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Stafford and Plainfield 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% |
7.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
79.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer 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% |
11%±3.5Highest CT: 16% |
| Stafford 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 | #96 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Putnam School District | Stafford School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | Putnam High School | Stafford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Highest |
9.5Lowest |
9.8 |
| 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.