Compare towns
Springfield vs Plainville vs Putnam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Springfield has the most kids (24.2% under 18).
Plainville has the highest household income ($84k).
Putnam has the most expensive homes ($269k 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 | Springfield | Plainville | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 154,749Highest |
17,551 |
9,292Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 33.7±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
44.3±1.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
| Plainville and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.2%±0.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 13.2%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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+ | 20.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
30%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±0.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Springfield and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $52,656±$2kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$84,343±$7kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7k 13% below U.S. |
| Plainville and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,000±$4kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$254,000±$14k 24% below U.S. |
$269,200±$11kHighest 19% below U.S. |
| Putnam and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,144±$55 19% below U.S. |
$1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44Highest 19% below U.S. |
| Putnam and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,695Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,798Highest 54% above U.S. |
$3,860 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±3.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 25.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
21 min 20% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #276 of 282 in MA | #89 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Springfield | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Springfield Central High | Plainville High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
11.4 |
9.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.