Compare towns
Putnam vs Wolcott 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).
Wolcott has the highest household income ($111k).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Winchester has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
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 | Wolcott | Plainfield | Winchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,292Lowest |
16,279Highest |
15,141 |
10,284 |
| Median age | 43.7±3 6% above CT |
44.4±2.5 8% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
49.1±6.2Highest 19% above CT |
| Winchester and Wolcott 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% |
19.4%±3.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.4%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
18.8%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
27.4%±5.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20% CT: 42.5% |
37%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
27.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.3%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
| Plainfield and Wolcott 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 |
$110,850±$10kHighest 16% above CT |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
$66,519±$12kLowest 31% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
$326,200±$17kHighest 11% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$249,500±$17kLowest 32% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,464±$913Highest about the CT average |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,174±$116 21% below CT |
| Wolcott and Plainfield 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 |
$5,799Highest 13% 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% |
49.8%±24.2Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
48.9%±15.8 CT: 52.6% |
| Wolcott 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% |
1.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
12.8%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
88.4%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 |
30 minHighest 13% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
26 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
11.2%±3.1Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
6.9%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
| Wolcott 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 | #76 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #97 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Wolcott School District | Plainfield School District | Explorations District · Regional School District 07 |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | Wolcott High School | Plainfield High School | Northwestern Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
10.1 |
10.3Highest |
9.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.