Compare towns
Putnam vs Salisbury 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).
Salisbury has the most expensive homes ($764k median).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
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 | Salisbury | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,120 |
4,224Lowest |
15,141Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 41.2±5.1 about the CT average |
44.2±9.9Highest 8% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
| Salisbury 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 CT: 20.2% |
19.2%±6.9 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Plainfield and Salisbury 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% |
28.1%±5.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18.8% CT: 42.5% |
58.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest 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 | $65,511±$7kLowest 32% below CT |
$124,256±$26kHighest 30% above CT |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,100±$13kLowest 33% below CT |
$763,700±$121kHighest 108% above CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,147±$43Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,846±$736Highest 24% above CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
| Salisbury and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,564Lowest 46% below CT |
$5,125Highest 23% below CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±12.1 CT: 52.6% |
23.2%±11.8Lowest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Plainfield and Putnam 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% |
4.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
68.2% 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 min 5% below CT |
20 minLowest 25% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 6.7%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
28%±8Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #128 of 149 in CT | #19 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Salisbury School District | 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 |
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.