Compare towns
Putnam vs Northbridge vs Plainfield vs Pomfret
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Northbridge has the most people working from home (16.2%).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Pomfret has the most kids (23.1% 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 | Northbridge | Plainfield | Pomfret |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,292 |
16,458Highest |
15,141 |
4,317Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
45.9±3.7Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Pomfret and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Pomfret and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Putnam and Pomfret 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% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$111,319±$19kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8k 5% below U.S. |
$108,476±$8k 34% above U.S. |
| Northbridge and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$448,600±$15kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
$409,100±$28k 23% above U.S. |
| Northbridge and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,210±$300Highest 14% below U.S. |
| Pomfret and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
$5,903Highest 89% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pomfret and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.2%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Northbridge and Pomfret 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 | #226 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT | #39 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Northbridge | Plainfield School District | Pomfret School District |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | Northbridge High | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
10.8Highest |
10.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.