Compare towns
Putnam vs Lawrence vs Plainville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lawrence has the most expensive homes ($415k median).
Plainville has the highest household income ($84k).
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 | Lawrence | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,292Lowest |
88,736Highest |
17,551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +16.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
32.6±0.9Lowest 16% below U.S. |
44.3±1.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Plainville 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% |
26.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8Highest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
16.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainville and Lawrence 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 13% below U.S. |
$60,433±$3kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$84,343±$7kHighest 4% above U.S. |
| Plainville and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $269,200±$11k 19% below U.S. |
$415,200±$23kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,662±$50Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,860 24% above U.S. |
$3,422Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$4,798Highest 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
28.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainville and Putnam 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 | #278 of 282 in MA | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Lawrence | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | Lawrence High School | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
13.6Highest |
11.4 |
| 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.