Compare towns
Putnam vs Smithfield 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).
Smithfield has the most expensive homes ($446k 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 | Smithfield | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,292Lowest |
22,233Highest |
15,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S. |
41.8±2.6 7% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Putnam and Smithfield 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% |
16.9%±2.4Lowest 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% |
21.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Smithfield 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% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$102,077±$8kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8k 5% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$446,400±$12kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70Highest 15% below U.S. |
| 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 24% above U.S. |
$5,207Highest 67% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Smithfield 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% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Smithfield 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 | #8 of 38 in RI | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Smithfield | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | Smithfield High School | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
11.8Highest |
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.