Compare towns
Putnam vs Durham vs Plainfield vs Putnam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has the highest household income ($159k).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Putnam has the most renters (49.3% rent).
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 | Durham | Plainfield | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,292 |
7,208 |
15,141Highest |
7,120Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | -2.1% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 43.7±3 6% above CT |
45.5±2.8Highest 11% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
41.2±5.1 about the CT average |
| Durham and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.9%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
| Plainfield and Putnam 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% |
17.4%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Putnam and Durham 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% |
47.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
18.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Plainfield and Putnam 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 26% below CT |
$158,857±$7kHighest 66% above CT |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
$65,511±$7kLowest 32% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
$424,800±$23kHighest 16% above CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$245,100±$13kLowest 33% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44 23% below CT |
$1,154±$448 22% below CT |
$1,204±$70Highest 19% below CT |
$1,147±$43Lowest 23% below CT |
| Plainfield and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,860 42% below CT |
$7,998Highest 20% above CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
$3,564Lowest 46% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±28.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
38.2%±12.1 CT: 52.6% |
| Durham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.5% CT: 10% |
3.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
11.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% CT: 66.5% |
93.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
50.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below CT |
23 minLowest 13% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
25 min 5% below CT |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
20.5%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
6.7%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #128 of 149 in CT | #88 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Regional School District 13 | Plainfield School District | — |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | Coginchaug Regional High School | Plainfield High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5 |
8.9Lowest |
10.3Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 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.