Compare towns
Putnam vs Middletown 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 affordable homes ($245k median).
Middletown has the most people working from home (14.1%).
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 | Middletown | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,120Lowest |
47,958Highest |
15,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
+0.1%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 41.2±5.1Highest about the CT average |
38.1±1.5 7% below CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
| Putnam and Middletown 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% |
14.3%±1.3Lowest 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%±3.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.5%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
| 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+ | 18.8% CT: 42.5% |
40.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15.5%±1.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $65,511±$7kLowest 32% below CT |
$79,438±$6kHighest 17% below CT |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
| Middletown 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 |
$295,300±$11kHighest 20% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
| Middletown and Plainfield 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 |
$1,446±$45Highest about the CT average |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,564Lowest 46% below CT |
$6,412Highest 3% below CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±12.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
47.7%±5.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
| Middletown and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.7% CT: 10% |
12%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
52.9% CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below CT |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 6.7%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
14.1%±1.8Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
| Middletown 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 | #121 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | — | Middletown High School | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.8Highest |
10.3Lowest |
| 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.