Compare towns

Plainville vs Putnam vs Stepney

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Stepney has the highest household income ($154k).

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.

MeasurePlainvillePutnamStepney
People
Population
17,551Highest
9,292
3,979Lowest
Median age
44.3±1.5
8% above CT
43.7±3Lowest
6% above CT
47.1±5.6Highest
15% above CT
Stepney and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.6%±2.3Lowest
CT: 20.2%
18.6%±3.6
CT: 20.2%
21.1%±5.6Highest
CT: 20.2%
Stepney and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.1%±2.8Highest
CT: 18.5%
18.5%±3.1
CT: 18.5%
17.7%±4.1Lowest
CT: 18.5%
Plainville and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
30%
CT: 42.5%
20%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
54.2%Highest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.2%±1.6
CT: 7.1%
3.9%±1.4Lowest
CT: 7.1%
10.1%±5.4Highest
CT: 7.1%
Stepney and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$84,343±$7k
12% below CT
$70,561±$7kLowest
26% below CT
$153,966±$16kHighest
61% above CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$254,000±$14kLowest
31% below CT
$269,200±$11k
27% below CT
$475,800±$53kHighest
30% above CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,126±$147Lowest
24% below CT
$1,149±$44
23% below CT
$2,750±$1kHighest
85% above CT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,798
28% below CT
$3,860Lowest
42% below CT
$9,309Highest
40% above CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
40.3%±12.4
CT: 52.6%
37.7%±11.6Lowest
CT: 52.6%
63.2%±48.8Highest
CT: 52.6%
Stepney and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.5%
CT: 10%
11.5%Highest
CT: 10%
0.8%Lowest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
67.7%
CT: 66.5%
59.8%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
96.4%Highest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971
4 yrs newer than CT
1961Lowest
6 yrs older than CT
1982Highest
15 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 minLowest
20% below CT
25 min
6% below CT
37 minHighest
41% above CT
Work from home
10.7%±2Highest
CT: 16%
9%±2.8Lowest
CT: 16%
9.8%±4.3
CT: 16%
Plainville and Stepney 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 #89 of 149 in CT #128 of 149 in CT —
School district Judicial Centers · Plainville School District Putnam School District —
High school in town Plainville High School Putnam High School —
Students per teacherat that high school
11.4Highest
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.