Compare towns
Putnam vs Plainfield vs Winchester vs Derby
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 shortest commute (25 min average).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Winchester has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
Derby has the most people working from home (15.1%).
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 | Winchester | Derby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,292Lowest |
15,141Highest |
10,284 |
12,487 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | -4.5% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 43.7±3 6% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
49.1±6.2Highest 19% above CT |
46.4±3.1 13% above CT |
| Winchester and Derby 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% |
19.4%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.4%±2.9 CT: 20.2% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest 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% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
27.4%±5.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
21.1%±3.9 CT: 18.5% |
| Winchester and Derby 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% |
27.8% CT: 42.5% |
35.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Derby 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±$7k 26% below CT |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
$66,519±$12kLowest 31% below CT |
$79,500±$11kHighest 17% below CT |
| Derby and Plainfield 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 |
$249,500±$17kLowest 32% below CT |
$256,700±$21k 30% 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±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,174±$116 21% below CT |
$1,452±$95Highest about the CT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
$4,780 28% below CT |
$5,510Highest 17% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
48.9%±15.8 CT: 52.6% |
53.9%±12.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Derby and Winchester 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% |
12.8%Highest CT: 10% |
10.8% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
65.8% CT: 66.5% |
61.9% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1955Lowest 12 yrs older than CT |
1967 same as CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
26 min about the CT average |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
6.9%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
15.1%±4.8Highest CT: 16% |
| Derby 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #97 of 149 in CT | #138 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Plainfield School District | Explorations District · Regional School District 07 | Derby School District |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | Plainfield High School | Northwestern Regional High School | Derby High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
10.3Highest |
9.7 |
9.7 |
| 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.