Compare towns
Plainfield vs Springfield vs Putnam
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 most homeowners (73.6%).
Springfield has the most kids (24.2% under 18).
Putnam has the oldest population (median age 43.7).
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 | Springfield | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,141 |
154,749Highest |
9,292Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 37±4.5 5% below U.S. |
33.7±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
24.2%±0.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Putnam and Plainfield 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% |
20.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±0.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Springfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,993±$8kHighest 5% below U.S. |
$52,656±$2kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$70,561±$7k 13% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,100±$16kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$245,000±$4kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$269,200±$11k 19% below U.S. |
| 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 15% below U.S. |
$1,144±$55Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
| 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 35% above U.S. |
$3,695Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$3,860 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±3.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
25.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
49.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8 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 | #276 of 282 in MA | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Springfield | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | Springfield Central High | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
12.2Highest |
9.5Lowest |
| 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.