Compare towns
Putnam vs Norfolk vs Plainfield vs Killingly
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).
Norfolk has the most people working from home (23.3%).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Killingly has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
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 | Norfolk | Plainfield | Killingly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,292 |
1,723Lowest |
15,141 |
17,867Highest |
| Median age | 43.7±3 6% above CT |
48.2±7.4Highest 17% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
| Norfolk 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% |
15.8%±4.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Killingly and Plainfield 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% |
28.8%±3.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20% CT: 42.5% |
48.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
2.1%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
| Plainfield and Killingly 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 |
$91,548±$16kHighest 4% below CT |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
| Norfolk and Killingly 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 |
$430,900±$54kHighest 17% above CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44 23% below CT |
$1,190±$116 20% below CT |
$1,204±$70Highest 19% below CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
| Plainfield and Norfolk 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 |
$6,065Highest 9% below CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
$3,922 41% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
27.3%±17Lowest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Killingly and Plainfield 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% |
7.5%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
11.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
81.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1938Lowest 29 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below CT |
27 min 3% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
28 minHighest 5% above CT |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
23.3%±4.7Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #128 of 149 in CT | — | #131 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Norfolk School District | Plainfield School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | None in town | Plainfield High School | Killingly High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
— | 10.3 |
11.1Highest |
| 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.