Compare towns

Putnam vs Springfield 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).
Springfield has the most people working from home (16.7%).
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.

MeasurePutnamSpringfieldPlainfield
People
Population
9,292
1,122Lowest
15,141Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-4%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
43.7±3
12% above U.S.
51.4±8.8Highest
32% above U.S.
37±4.5Lowest
5% below U.S.
Springfield 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%
15.1%±8Lowest
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%
19.8%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.6%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Springfield 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%
36.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
15%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
0%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Plainfield and Putnam 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.
$100,893±$19kHighest
25% above U.S.
$76,993±$8k
5% below U.S.
Springfield 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±$11kLowest
19% below U.S.
$384,100±$50kHighest
15% above U.S.
$272,100±$16k
18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,149±$44
19% below U.S.
$1,096±$217Lowest
22% 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.
$5,946Highest
91% above U.S.
$4,209
35% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
37.7%±11.6
U.S.: 51.1%
25.9%±64.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
39.8%±9.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Plainfield and Putnam 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%
3.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
59.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
6% below U.S.
34 minHighest
30% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
9%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.7%±11.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10%±4
U.S.: 15.1%
Springfield 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
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

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.