Compare towns
Plainfield vs Putnam vs Ashfield
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 (98%).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Ashfield has the most expensive homes ($401k median).
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 | Ashfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 616Lowest |
9,292Highest |
1,893 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±9.5 30% above U.S. |
43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
58.6±3.4Highest 51% above U.S. |
| Ashfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±9.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.5%±7.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ashfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 | $63,500±$14kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$70,561±$7k 13% below U.S. |
$80,833±$16kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Ashfield and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $309,000±$47k 7% below U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$400,600±$30kHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$558Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,100±$200Lowest 22% 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 | $4,458 43% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$5,197Highest 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.5%±34Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
30 min 13% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.2%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield and Ashfield 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 | — | #128 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | — | Putnam School District | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | — | Putnam High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5 |
— |
| 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.