Compare towns
Putnam vs Halifax vs Plainfield vs Griswold
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).
Halifax has the most expensive homes ($482k median).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Griswold has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
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 | Halifax | Plainfield | Griswold |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,292 |
7,748Lowest |
15,141Highest |
11,530 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
41.9±4.7 8% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
48.1±3.9Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Griswold 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 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax 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% |
18.8%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Halifax 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Halifax 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. |
$118,556±$11kHighest 47% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8k 5% below U.S. |
$78,719±$11k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$481,500±$51kHighest 45% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
$275,900±$42k 17% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,804±$375Highest 28% above U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,177±$65 17% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$6,840Highest 119% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
$4,628 48% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.6%±37.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±15.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Griswold and Halifax 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% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Halifax and Plainfield 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 | #120 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT | #118 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Halifax | Plainfield School District | Griswold School District |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | None in town | Plainfield High School | Griswold High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
— | 10.3 |
11.5Highest |
| 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.