Compare towns
Putnam vs Brookfield 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
Putnam has the most kids (18.6% under 18).
Brookfield has the most homeowners (87.5%).
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.
| Measure | Putnam | Brookfield | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,292 |
3,460Lowest |
17,551Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
52.4±2.1Highest 35% above U.S. |
44.3±1.5 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Putnam and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.7Highest 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9% 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%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$81,250±$37k about the U.S. average |
$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 |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44Highest 19% below U.S. |
$1,014±$161Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,126±$147 20% below U.S. |
| Putnam and Plainville 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. |
$4,798 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% |
40.3%±12.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brookfield and Plainville 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% |
6.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7% 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. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±5.5Highest 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 | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.