Compare towns
Putnam vs Hardwick vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putnam has the most renters (49.3% rent).
Hardwick has the most expensive homes ($347k median).
Plainfield has the most people working from home (10%).
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 | Hardwick | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,120 |
2,684Lowest |
15,141Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 41.2±5.1 6% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8Highest 16% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Hardwick and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Hardwick and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hardwick 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick 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 19% below U.S. |
$75,000±$22k 7% below U.S. |
$76,993±$8kHighest 5% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,100±$13kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$346,700±$67kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
| Hardwick and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,147±$43 19% below U.S. |
$1,108±$119Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70Highest 15% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,564Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$4,400Highest 41% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±12.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hardwick 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 6.7%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield and Hardwick 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 | #163 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Quabbin | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.3 |
| 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.