Compare towns
Putnam vs Middlefield vs Plainfield vs Griswold
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 renters (40.2% rent).
Middlefield has the most expensive homes ($376k 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 | Middlefield | Plainfield | Griswold |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,292 |
4,243Lowest |
15,141Highest |
11,530 |
| Median age | 43.7±3 6% above CT |
51.6±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
48.1±3.9 17% above CT |
| Middlefield and Griswold 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% |
13.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.5%±3.7 CT: 20.2% |
| Plainfield 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% |
25.5%±7.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17.8%±3.5 CT: 18.5% |
| Middlefield 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% CT: 42.5% |
41.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
19.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
5.7%±2.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Middlefield and Plainfield 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 |
$99,837±$20kHighest 4% above CT |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
$78,719±$11k 18% below CT |
| Middlefield and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$376,000±$27kHighest about the CT average |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$275,900±$42k 25% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
$3,501Highest 135% above CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,177±$65 21% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$6,853Highest 3% above CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
$4,628 30% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
57.5%±15.5 CT: 52.6% |
| Middlefield and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
8.1% CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
7.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
73.3% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1977Highest 10 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
31 minHighest 17% above CT |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
10.9%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
9%±3.6Lowest CT: 16% |
| Middlefield and Plainfield 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 | #65 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #118 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Regional School District 13 | Plainfield School District | Griswold School District |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | None in town | Plainfield High School | Griswold High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
— | 10.3 |
11.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.