Compare towns

Putnam vs Brookfield vs Plainfield vs Killingly

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Brookfield has the oldest population (median age 52.4).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Killingly has the highest household income ($84k).

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.

MeasurePutnamBrookfieldPlainfieldKillingly
People
Population
9,292
3,460Lowest
15,141
17,867Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+1.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
— —
Median age
43.7±3
12% above U.S.
52.4±2.1Highest
35% above U.S.
37±4.5Lowest
5% below U.S.
39.5±3
about the U.S. average
Kids under 18
18.6%±3.6
U.S.: 22%
13.4%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.4%±2.6
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
Killingly and Plainfield 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%
16.6%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
20%
U.S.: 35.7%
28.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
15%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
22.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.2%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
Brookfield 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
13% below U.S.
$81,250±$37k
about the U.S. average
$76,993±$8k
5% below U.S.
$84,350±$8kHighest
4% above U.S.
Killingly 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±$11kLowest
19% below U.S.
$341,900±$23kHighest
about the U.S. average
$272,100±$16k
18% below U.S.
$288,600±$15k
13% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,149±$44
19% below U.S.
$1,014±$161Lowest
28% below U.S.
$1,204±$70Highest
15% below U.S.
$1,044±$141
26% below U.S.
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
24% above U.S.
$5,092Highest
63% above U.S.
$4,209
35% above U.S.
$3,922
26% 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%
39.8%±9.5
U.S.: 51.1%
42.8%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
Brookfield and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
59.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
6% below U.S.
32 minHighest
23% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
28 min
6% above U.S.
Work from home
9%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
12%±5.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10%±4
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
Brookfield and Killingly 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 #131 of 149 in CT #136 of 149 in CT
School district Putnam School District Brookfield Plainfield School District Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS
High school in town Putnam High School None in town Plainfield High School Killingly High School
Students per teacherat that high school
9.5Lowest
—
10.3
11.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet None yet

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.