Compare towns
Putnam vs Bethlehem 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 (40.2% rent).
Bethlehem has the most expensive homes ($411k 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 | Bethlehem | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,292 |
3,423Lowest |
15,141Highest |
| Median age | 43.7±3 6% above CT |
51.5±8.5Highest 25% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
| Bethlehem and Putnam 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% |
16.3%±4Lowest 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+ | 18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bethlehem and Putnam 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% |
39.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Plainfield and Bethlehem 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 |
$108,929±$16kHighest 14% above CT |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$410,900±$36kHighest 12% above CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44 23% below CT |
$1,127±$124Lowest 24% 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 | $3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$5,932Highest 11% below CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
10.4% CT: 10% |
8.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
70.2% CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below CT |
29 minHighest 9% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
13.9%±5Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
| Bethlehem 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 | #82 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Regional School District 14 | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | None in town | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
— | 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.