Compare towns

Putnam vs Brookfield vs Danielson vs Plainville

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brookfield has the most homeowners (87.5%).
Danielson has the youngest population (median age 34.5).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).

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.

MeasurePutnamBrookfieldDanielsonPlainville
People
Population
9,292
3,460Lowest
4,209
17,551Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+1.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
43.7±3
12% above U.S.
52.4±2.1Highest
35% above U.S.
34.5±3.6Lowest
11% below U.S.
44.3±1.5
14% above U.S.
Kids under 18
18.6%±3.6
U.S.: 22%
13.4%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.9%±6.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.6%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
Danielson 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
U.S.: 17.2%
28.4%±5.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
13.6%±4.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.1%±2.8
U.S.: 17.2%
Brookfield and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
20%
U.S.: 35.7%
28.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
11.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
30%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.2%±3.2
U.S.: 6.4%
9.2%±6.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.2%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
Danielson and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$70,561±$7k
13% below U.S.
$81,250±$37k
about the U.S. average
$64,050±$15kLowest
21% below U.S.
$84,343±$7kHighest
4% above U.S.
Plainville and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$269,200±$11k
19% below U.S.
$341,900±$23kHighest
about the U.S. average
$224,600±$13kLowest
32% below U.S.
$254,000±$14k
24% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,149±$44
19% below U.S.
$1,014±$161Lowest
28% below U.S.
$1,235±$194Highest
13% below U.S.
$1,126±$147
20% below U.S.
Danielson and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,860Lowest
24% above U.S.
$5,092Highest
63% above U.S.
$4,009
29% above U.S.
$4,798
54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
37.7%±11.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
50.7%±11.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.7%±17.1
U.S.: 51.1%
40.3%±12.4
U.S.: 51.1%
Brookfield and Danielson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
21.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
59.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
87.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
53%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
67.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1961
19 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1951Lowest
29 yrs older than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
6% below U.S.
32 minHighest
23% above U.S.
28 min
8% above U.S.
21 minLowest
20% below U.S.
Work from home
9%±2.8
U.S.: 15.1%
12%±5.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.6%±5.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.7%±2
U.S.: 15.1%
Brookfield and Plainville 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 #109 of 282 in MA — #89 of 149 in CT
School district Putnam School District Brookfield — Judicial Centers · Plainville School District
High school in town Putnam High School None in town — Plainville High School
Students per teacherat that high school
9.5Lowest
— —
11.4Highest
On TownTapestry
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U.S. 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.