Compare towns
Putnam vs Bethlehem vs Plainfield vs Ansonia
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).
Bethlehem has the most expensive homes ($411k median).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Ansonia has the most renters (41.9% rent).
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 | Ansonia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,292 |
3,423Lowest |
15,141 |
19,033Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | -1.7% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 43.7±3 6% above CT |
51.5±8.5Highest 25% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
40.1±1.6 about the CT average |
| 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% |
18.3%±2.8 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% |
18.1%±2.7 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% |
21.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Ansonia and Plainfield 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 |
$85,877±$10k 10% below CT |
| Bethlehem and Ansonia 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 |
$410,900±$36kHighest 12% above CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$287,200±$14k 22% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44 23% below CT |
$1,127±$124Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,476±$121Highest about the CT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$5,932Highest 11% below CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
$5,446 18% 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% |
39.7%±10 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% |
9.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% CT: 66.5% |
70.2% CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
58.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1954Lowest 13 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below CT |
29 minHighest 9% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
13.9%±5Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
9.1%±2.9 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 | #142 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Regional School District 14 | Plainfield School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Ansonia School District |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | None in town | Plainfield High School | Emmett O'Brien Technical High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
— | 10.3 |
12.2Highest |
| 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.