Compare towns
Putnam vs Bantam vs Plainfield vs Thompson
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 shortest commute (25 min average).
Bantam has the most people working from home (16%).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Bantam | Plainfield | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,292 |
810Lowest |
15,141Highest |
9,337 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -5.1% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 43.7±3 6% above CT |
47.2±15.7 15% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
| Thompson and Bantam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
18.8%±6.5 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Plainfield and Bantam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
25.4%±8.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.4%±4.3 CT: 18.5% |
| Bantam and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20% CT: 42.5% |
26.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
21.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
3.1%±2.3 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest 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 | $70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
— | $76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
$93,629±$18kHighest about the CT average |
| Thompson and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$317,700±$40kHighest 13% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$291,900±$24k 20% below CT |
| Bantam and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44 23% below CT |
$688±$106Lowest 54% below CT |
$1,204±$70Highest 19% below CT |
$1,012±$344 32% 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 | $3,860 42% below CT |
$3,984 40% below CT |
$4,209Highest 37% below CT |
$3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
57.3%±12.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7 CT: 52.6% |
| Bantam and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.5% CT: 10% |
14.4%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
5.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% CT: 66.5% |
49.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
84.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1963 4 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
27 min about the CT average |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
16%±7.9Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
| Bantam and Thompson 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 | — | #131 of 149 in CT | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | — | Plainfield School District | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | — | Plainfield High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5 |
— | 10.3Highest |
7.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.