Compare towns
Putnam vs Hanover vs Plainfield
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).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($755k median).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
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 | Hanover | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,292Lowest |
14,845 |
15,141Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S. |
41.8±1.4 7% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Putnam and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Putnam and Plainfield 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% |
56.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Hanover 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. |
$189,803±$23kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8k 5% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$755,400±$39kHighest 127% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,845±$341Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$9,342Highest 200% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
65%±23.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Plainfield 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% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #128 of 149 in CT | #69 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | South Shore Vocational Technical High | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
10.3Highest |
10.3Highest |
| 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.