Compare towns
Putnam vs Suffield vs Hampton vs Plainville
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 most renters (40.2% rent).
Suffield has the most expensive homes ($408k median).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Suffield | Hampton | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,292 |
15,702 |
1,647Lowest |
17,551Highest |
| Median age | 43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
44.5±1.7 8% above CT |
51.5±5.3Highest 25% above CT |
44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
| Hampton and Suffield 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% |
16.2%±2 CT: 20.2% |
19.7%±5.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Hampton 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% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26.1%±2.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
29.9% CT: 42.5% |
30% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Plainville and Suffield 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 26% below CT |
$119,472±$13kHighest 25% above CT |
$109,167±$19k 14% above CT |
$84,343±$7k 12% below CT |
| Suffield and Hampton 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 |
$407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
$295,800±$27k 19% below CT |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44 23% below CT |
$1,424±$141Highest 4% below CT |
$1,285±$288 14% below CT |
$1,126±$147Lowest 24% below CT |
| Suffield and Hampton 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 |
$6,456Highest about the CT average |
$4,364 34% below CT |
$4,798 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
52.5%±51.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4 CT: 52.6% |
| Hampton and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
4.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
6.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.7% CT: 66.5% |
90%Highest CT: 66.5% |
67.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1980Highest 13 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below CT |
26 min 3% below CT |
29 minHighest 9% above CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
17.7%±5.1 CT: 16% |
10.7%±2 CT: 16% |
| Suffield and Hampton 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | — | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Suffield School District | Hampton School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | Suffield High School | None in town | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
10.9 |
— | 11.4Highest |
| 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.