Compare towns
Pomfret vs Orange vs Plainfield vs Putnam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pomfret has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Orange has the highest household income ($142k).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
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 | Pomfret | Orange | Plainfield | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,317Lowest |
14,315 |
15,141Highest |
9,292 |
| Median age | 45.9±3.7Highest 12% above CT |
45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
| Pomfret and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.1%±4.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Pomfret and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.8%±4.5 CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
| Orange and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.8% CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
20% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,476±$8k 13% above CT |
$142,325±$10kHighest 49% above CT |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $409,100±$28k 12% above CT |
$491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,210±$300 19% below CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,903 11% below CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±15.3 CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Orange and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6% CT: 10% |
3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% CT: 66.5% |
89.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below CT |
28 minHighest 4% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
25 min 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 13.2%±5.2 CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Orange and Pomfret 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 | #39 of 149 in CT | #38 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Pomfret School District | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Plainfield School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Plainfield High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.3Highest |
9.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.