Compare towns
Stafford vs Putnam vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stafford has the highest household income ($93k).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
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 | Stafford | Putnam | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,511 |
9,292Lowest |
15,141Highest |
| Median age | 46.7±4.8Highest 14% above CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
| Stafford and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.5%±3.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Stafford and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22%±3Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Stafford and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Plainfield and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,235±$16kHighest about the CT average |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
| Stafford and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $263,800±$22kLowest 28% below CT |
$269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
$272,100±$16kHighest 26% below CT |
| Plainfield and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,086±$85Lowest 27% below CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
$1,204±$70Highest 19% below CT |
| Plainfield and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,131Highest 23% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.5%±12.2Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
| Stafford and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the CT average |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 11%±3.5Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
| Stafford 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 | #96 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Stafford School District | Putnam School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Stafford High School | Putnam High School | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
9.5Lowest |
10.3Highest |
| 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.