Compare towns

Prospect 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

Prospect has the highest household income ($126k).
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.

MeasureProspectPlainfieldPutnam
People
Population
9,458
15,141Highest
9,292Lowest
Median age
46.8±3.9Highest
14% above CT
37±4.5Lowest
10% below CT
43.7±3
6% above CT
Prospect and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.4%±4.1Highest
CT: 20.2%
19.4%±2.6
CT: 20.2%
18.6%±3.6Lowest
CT: 20.2%
Prospect and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
24.5%±4.3Highest
CT: 18.5%
16.6%±2.4Lowest
CT: 18.5%
18.5%±3.1
CT: 18.5%
Prospect and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
40.3%Highest
CT: 42.5%
15%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
20%
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.5%±1.8Lowest
CT: 7.1%
5.6%±1.8Highest
CT: 7.1%
3.9%±1.4
CT: 7.1%
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
$126,394±$18kHighest
32% above CT
$76,993±$8k
20% below CT
$70,561±$7kLowest
26% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$355,400±$21kHighest
3% below CT
$272,100±$16k
26% below CT
$269,200±$11kLowest
27% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,800±$433Highest
21% above CT
$1,204±$70
19% below CT
$1,149±$44Lowest
23% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,504Highest
about the CT average
$4,209
37% below CT
$3,860Lowest
42% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
45.3%±31.8Highest
CT: 52.6%
39.8%±9.5
CT: 52.6%
37.7%±11.6Lowest
CT: 52.6%
Prospect and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.2%Lowest
CT: 10%
8.7%
CT: 10%
11.5%Highest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.5%Highest
CT: 66.5%
73.6%
CT: 66.5%
59.8%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974Highest
7 yrs newer than CT
1971
4 yrs newer than CT
1961Lowest
6 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
4% above CT
27 min
about the CT average
25 minLowest
6% below CT
Work from home
10.1%±3.2Highest
CT: 16%
10%±4
CT: 16%
9%±2.8Lowest
CT: 16%
Prospect 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 #50 of 149 in CT #131 of 149 in CT #128 of 149 in CT
School district Regional School District 16 Plainfield School District Putnam School District
High school 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

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.