Compare towns
Plainfield vs Washington vs Putnam
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).
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k median).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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 | Washington | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,141Highest |
3,676Lowest |
9,292 |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
49.9±5.5Highest 21% above CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
| Washington 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% |
19%±4.7 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Plainfield and Washington 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% |
26.9%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
| Washington 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% |
53.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
6.4%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Washington 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±$8k 20% below CT |
$101,549±$16kHighest 6% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$660,200±$130kHighest 80% above CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70Highest 19% below CT |
$1,204±$264Highest 19% below CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,209 37% below CT |
$4,709Highest 29% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
26.1%±24Lowest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6 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%Lowest CT: 10% |
9% CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% CT: 66.5% |
79%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the CT average |
26 min 4% below CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 10%±4 CT: 16% |
20.1%±9Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Washington 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 | #17 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Regional School District 12 | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | Shepaug Valley School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Highest |
9.1Lowest |
9.5 |
| 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.