Compare towns
Plainfield vs Putnam vs Union
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).
Union has the most homeowners (92.9%).
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 | Union |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,141Highest |
9,292 |
944Lowest |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
49.9±4.3Highest 21% above CT |
| Union 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 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest 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% |
24.5%±2.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
20% CT: 42.5% |
24%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
| Plainfield and Union 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 |
$88,958±$14kHighest 7% below CT |
| Union 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 |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$330,400±$26kHighest 10% below CT |
| 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 | $4,209 37% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$4,793Highest 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
90%±64.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Union 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% |
5.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 10%±4Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
9%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
| 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 | — |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Putnam School District | Union School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | Putnam High School | None in town |
| 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.