Compare towns
Putnam vs Windham 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 oldest population (median age 41.2).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($210k 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 | Windham | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,120Lowest |
23,961Highest |
15,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 41.2±5.1Highest about the CT average |
33.7±1.9Lowest 18% below CT |
37±4.5 10% below CT |
| Putnam and Plainfield 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% |
20.1%±2.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Windham and Plainfield 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% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest 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% |
22.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $65,511±$7k 32% below CT |
$55,736±$5kLowest 42% below CT |
$76,993±$8kHighest 20% below CT |
| Plainfield and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,100±$13k 33% below CT |
$209,800±$9kLowest 43% below CT |
$272,100±$16kHighest 26% below CT |
| Plainfield and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,147±$43 23% below CT |
$1,107±$69Lowest 26% below CT |
$1,204±$70Highest 19% below CT |
| 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 46% below CT |
$4,633Highest 30% below CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±12.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
| Windham 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% |
20.7%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.7% CT: 66.5% |
47.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below CT |
24 minLowest 8% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 6.7%±2.7 CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
10%±4Highest CT: 16% |
| Plainfield and Putnam 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 | #143 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | — | Windham High School | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Lowest |
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.