Compare towns
Putnam vs Bristol 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 43.7).
Bristol has the most people working from home (11.4%).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (73.6%).
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 | Bristol | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,292Lowest |
61,462Highest |
15,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +0.6% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 43.7±3Highest 6% above CT |
37.9±1.5 8% below CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±1.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Bristol and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±3.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.2%±1.2Lowest 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+ | 20% CT: 42.5% |
30.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±0.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Bristol 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 |
$79,076±$6kHighest 17% below CT |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
| Bristol 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 |
$277,800±$8kHighest 24% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
| Bristol and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,338±$45Highest 10% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$5,449Highest 18% below CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
55.5%±5.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
| Below poverty line | 11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
10.7% CT: 10% |
8.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
64.9% CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1967 same as CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below CT |
24 minLowest 11% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
11.4%±1.7Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
| Bristol 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 | #115 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Bristol School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | Bristol Central High School | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
14.0Highest |
10.3 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.