Compare towns
Putnam vs Union vs Plainfield vs Winchester
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).
Union has the most homeowners (92.9%).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Winchester has the most affordable homes ($250k median).
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 | Union | Plainfield | Winchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,292 |
944Lowest |
15,141Highest |
10,284 |
| Median age | 43.7±3 6% above CT |
49.9±4.3Highest 21% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
49.1±6.2 19% above CT |
| Union and Winchester 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% |
16.9%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.4%±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% |
24.5%±2.6 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
27.4%±5.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Winchester and Union 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% |
24% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
27.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
| Plainfield and Union 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 |
$88,958±$14kHighest 7% below CT |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
$66,519±$12kLowest 31% below CT |
| Union 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 |
$330,400±$26kHighest 10% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$249,500±$17kLowest 32% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
— | $1,204±$70Highest 19% below CT |
$1,174±$116 21% below CT |
| Plainfield and Winchester 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 |
$4,793Highest 28% below CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
$4,780 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
90%±64.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
48.9%±15.8 CT: 52.6% |
| Union 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% |
5.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
12.8%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
65.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1955Lowest 12 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
26 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
9%±3.7 CT: 16% |
10%±4Highest CT: 16% |
6.9%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
| Plainfield and Putnam 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 |
| School district | Putnam School District | Union School District | Plainfield School District | Explorations District · Regional School District 07 |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | None in town | Plainfield High School | Northwestern Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
— | 10.3Highest |
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.