Compare towns
Putnam vs Meriden vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putnam has the oldest population (median age 43.7).
Meriden has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (73.6%).
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 | Meriden | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,292Lowest |
60,545Highest |
15,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | 0% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 43.7±3Highest 6% above CT |
38.9±1.3 5% below CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
21.9%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Meriden and Plainfield 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% |
16.2%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
| 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% CT: 42.5% |
22.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±0.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$71,253±$4k 26% below CT |
$76,993±$8kHighest 20% below CT |
| Plainfield and Meriden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
$241,200±$7kLowest 34% below CT |
$272,100±$16kHighest 26% below CT |
| Plainfield and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,294±$72Highest 13% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
| Meriden and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$5,129Highest 23% below CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.4%±4.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
| Meriden 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% |
13.2%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
60.1% CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below CT |
23 minLowest 13% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
8.6%±1.6Lowest CT: 16% |
10%±4Highest CT: 16% |
| Plainfield 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 | #124 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Meriden School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | Francis T. Maloney High School | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
16.2Highest |
10.3 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.