Compare towns
Putnam vs Saugus vs Plainfield
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).
Saugus has the most expensive homes ($603k 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 | Saugus | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,292Lowest |
28,773Highest |
15,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
44.5±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Saugus 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 U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Saugus 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Saugus 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 13% below U.S. |
$101,539±$3kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8k 5% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$603,400±$13kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$2,241±$201Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$6,049Highest 94% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Saugus 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Saugus 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 | #194 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Saugus | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | Saugus High | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
15.5Highest |
10.3 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.