Compare towns
Putnam vs Lancaster vs Plainfield vs Thompson
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).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Lancaster | Plainfield | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,292 |
8,606Lowest |
15,141Highest |
9,337 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Lancaster 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% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Lancaster 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% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8k 5% below U.S. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,860 24% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Thompson 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% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #128 of 149 in CT | #145 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Nashoba | Plainfield School District | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | None in town | Plainfield High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5 |
— | 10.3Highest |
7.9Lowest |
| 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.