Compare towns
Providence vs Plainfield vs Putnam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
Towns like ProvidenceWarwick
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Providence has the most people working from home (14.3%).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (73.6%).
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 | Providence | Plainfield | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 191,767Highest |
15,141 |
9,292Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 32.8±0.5Lowest 16% below U.S. |
37±4.5 5% below U.S. |
43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±1Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Providence and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 11.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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+ | 34.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
20% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.4%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $68,119±$3kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$76,993±$8kHighest 5% below U.S. |
$70,561±$7k 13% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,200±$8kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$42Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418Highest 42% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48%±2.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Providence and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 20.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 41.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.3%±1.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Providence 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 | #36 of 38 in RI | #131 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | MET Career and Tech · Urban Collaborative | Plainfield School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Classical High School | Plainfield High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 17.2Highest |
10.3 |
9.5Lowest |
| 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.