Compare towns
Putnam vs Voluntown 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 kids (18.6% under 18).
Voluntown has the most expensive homes ($356k median).
Plainville has the most people working from home (10.7%).
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 | Voluntown | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,292 |
2,604Lowest |
17,551Highest |
| Median age | 43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
48.3±1.7Highest 18% above CT |
44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.5 CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Putnam and Voluntown 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% |
17.6%±3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Plainville 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%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
26.7% CT: 42.5% |
30%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
3.4%±1.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Plainville 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 26% below CT |
$101,964±$25kHighest 6% above CT |
$84,343±$7k 12% below CT |
| Voluntown and Plainville 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 |
$356,100±$16kHighest about the CT average |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44 23% below CT |
$1,166±$191Highest 22% below CT |
$1,126±$147Lowest 24% below CT |
| Voluntown and Putnam 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 |
$4,955Highest 25% below CT |
$4,798 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
42.9%±24.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4 CT: 52.6% |
| Voluntown and Plainville 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% |
7.3% CT: 10% |
6.5%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
83.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
67.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1983Highest 16 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below CT |
31 minHighest 18% above CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
8.9%±5.4Lowest CT: 16% |
10.7%±2Highest CT: 16% |
| Plainville 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 | #53 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Voluntown School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | None in town | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
— | 11.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.