Compare towns
Putnam vs Meriden vs Plainville
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 most expensive homes ($269k median).
Meriden has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
Plainville has the most people working from home (10.7%).
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 | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,292Lowest |
60,545Highest |
17,551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | 0% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 43.7±3 6% above CT |
38.9±1.3Lowest 5% below CT |
44.3±1.5Highest 8% above CT |
| 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 CT: 20.2% |
21.9%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Meriden and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
16.2%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
| 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%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
22.2% CT: 42.5% |
30%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±0.9 CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Plainville and Meriden 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 26% below CT |
$71,253±$4k 26% below CT |
$84,343±$7kHighest 12% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $269,200±$11kHighest 27% below CT |
$241,200±$7kLowest 34% below CT |
$254,000±$14k 31% below CT |
| Putnam and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44 23% below CT |
$1,294±$72Highest 13% below CT |
$1,126±$147Lowest 24% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$5,129Highest 23% below CT |
$4,798 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.4%±4.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4 CT: 52.6% |
| Meriden and Plainville 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% |
6.5%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
60.1% CT: 66.5% |
67.7%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 minHighest 6% below CT |
23 min 13% below CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
8.6%±1.6Lowest CT: 16% |
10.7%±2Highest CT: 16% |
| 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 | #124 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Meriden School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | Francis T. Maloney High School | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
16.2Highest |
11.4 |
| 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.