Compare towns
Plainfield vs West Haven 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 most homeowners (73.6%).
West Haven has the most renters (49.4% rent).
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 | West Haven | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,141 |
55,351Highest |
9,292Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | 0% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 37±4.5 10% below CT |
35.8±1.5Lowest 13% below CT |
43.7±3Highest 6% above CT |
| 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 CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±1.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| West Haven and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
16%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
| 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 CT: 42.5% |
30.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
13.6%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,993±$8kHighest 20% below CT |
$74,382±$5k 22% below CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
| Plainfield and West Haven 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 |
$291,700±$9kHighest 20% below CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
| West Haven and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,442±$43Highest 3% below CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,209 37% below CT |
$6,941Highest 4% above CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
53.4%±5.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| West Haven and Plainfield 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% |
14.1%Highest CT: 10% |
11.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
50.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
59.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the CT average |
23 minLowest 14% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 10%±4Highest CT: 16% |
9.2%±1.4 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Plainfield and West Haven 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 | #120 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | New Haven School District · West Haven School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | West Haven High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
15.6Highest |
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.