Compare towns
Putnam vs Derby vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putnam has the most renters (49.3% rent).
Derby has the most people working from home (15.1%).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (73.6%).
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 | Putnam | Derby | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,120Lowest |
12,487 |
15,141Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1%Highest CT: +0.9% |
-4.5%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 41.2±5.1 about the CT average |
46.4±3.1Highest 13% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
| Derby and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Plainfield and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
21.1%±3.9Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Derby and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18.8% CT: 42.5% |
35.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Derby and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $65,511±$7kLowest 32% below CT |
$79,500±$11kHighest 17% below CT |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
| Derby and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,100±$13kLowest 33% below CT |
$256,700±$21k 30% below CT |
$272,100±$16kHighest 26% below CT |
| Plainfield and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,147±$43Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,452±$95Highest about the CT average |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,564Lowest 46% below CT |
$5,510Highest 17% below CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±12.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.9%±12.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
| Derby and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.7%Highest CT: 10% |
10.8% CT: 10% |
8.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
61.9% CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1967 same as CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 6.7%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
15.1%±4.8Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
| Derby 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #138 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Derby School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | — | Derby High School | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.7Lowest |
10.3Highest |
| 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.