Compare towns
Putnam vs Plainfield vs Willimantic
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).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (73.6%).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
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 | Plainfield | Willimantic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,292Lowest |
15,141 |
18,096Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 43.7±3Highest 6% above CT |
37±4.5 10% below CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
| Putnam and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Willimantic 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% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest 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% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
24.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,561±$7k 26% below CT |
$76,993±$8kHighest 20% below CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
| Plainfield and Putnam 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 |
$272,100±$16kHighest 26% below CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% 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±$44 23% below CT |
$1,204±$70Highest 19% below CT |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
| Plainfield and Putnam 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 |
$4,209 37% below CT |
$4,678Highest 30% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Willimantic 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% |
8.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
10%±4Highest CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Putnam School District | Plainfield School District | — |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | Plainfield High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
10.3Highest |
— |
| 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.