Compare towns
Putnam vs Williston vs Pomfret vs Plainville
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).
Williston has the most people working from home (22.3%).
Pomfret has the most kids (23.1% under 18).
Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k 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 | Williston | Pomfret | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,292 |
10,144 |
4,317Lowest |
17,551Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +16.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
45.9±3.7Highest 18% above U.S. |
44.3±1.5 14% above U.S. |
| Pomfret and Williston 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% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Pomfret and Williston 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%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Williston and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
30% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainville and Williston 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. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$108,476±$8kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$84,343±$7k 4% above U.S. |
| Pomfret and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $269,200±$11k 19% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$409,100±$28k 23% above U.S. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Williston and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,210±$300 14% below U.S. |
$1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$5,592 79% above U.S. |
$5,903Highest 89% above U.S. |
$4,798 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pomfret and Williston 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% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
21 min 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.2%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Pomfret 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #39 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Pomfret School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | None in town | 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 | 6 photos → |
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.