Compare towns
Putnam vs Dunstable vs Plainville vs Pomfret
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).
Dunstable has the highest household income ($209k).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Pomfret has the oldest population (median age 45.9).
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 | Dunstable | Plainville | Pomfret |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,292 |
3,408Lowest |
17,551Highest |
4,317 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
41.5±2.4Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.3±1.5 14% above U.S. |
45.9±3.7Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Pomfret and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Pomfret and Dunstable 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% |
15%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainville 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dunstable and Plainville 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. |
$208,512±$23kHighest 158% above U.S. |
$84,343±$7k 4% above U.S. |
$108,476±$8k 34% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $269,200±$11k 19% below U.S. |
$674,000±$30kHighest 103% above U.S. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$409,100±$28k 23% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,325±$637Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,210±$300 14% below U.S. |
| Dunstable and Pomfret 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. |
$9,020Highest 189% above U.S. |
$4,798 54% above U.S. |
$5,903 89% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60%±77.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pomfret and Dunstable 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% |
0.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.2%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dunstable and Pomfret 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 | #4 of 282 in MA | #89 of 149 in CT | #39 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Groton-Dunstable | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Pomfret School District |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | None in town | Plainville High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
— | 11.4Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.