Compare towns
Wethersfield vs Plainfield vs Putnam vs Cheshire
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wethersfield has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Cheshire has the most expensive homes ($440k 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 | Wethersfield | Plainfield | Putnam | Cheshire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 27,250 |
15,141 |
9,292Lowest |
29,040Highest |
| Median age | 43.4±1.5 6% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
44.9±1.4Highest 9% above CT |
| Cheshire and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
21.9%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Cheshire and Wethersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±2 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
21.3%±1.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Cheshire and Wethersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.8% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
20% CT: 42.5% |
60.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
| Plainfield and Wethersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $126,806±$12k 32% above CT |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$146,528±$12kHighest 53% above CT |
| Cheshire and Wethersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $324,600±$11k 12% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$440,000±$17kHighest 20% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,370±$150 8% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,398±$116Highest 6% below CT |
| Cheshire and Wethersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,296 10% above CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$7,755Highest 17% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±11.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±6.3 CT: 52.6% |
| Wethersfield and Cheshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.9% CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
5%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1974Highest 7 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
25 min 6% below CT |
29 minHighest 9% above CT |
| Work from home | 18%±2.6 CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
19.1%±2.7Highest CT: 16% |
| Cheshire and Wethersfield 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 | #92 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #18 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Capitol Region Education Council · Wethersfield School District | Plainfield School District | Putnam School District | Cheshire School District |
| High school in town | Wethersfield High School | Plainfield High School | Putnam High School | Cheshire High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.8Highest |
10.3 |
9.5Lowest |
11.6 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.