Compare towns
Bristol vs Plainfield vs Brooklyn
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bristol has the most renters (35.1% rent).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Brooklyn has the highest household income ($96k).
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 | Bristol | Plainfield | Brooklyn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 61,462Highest |
15,141 |
8,517Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 37.9±1.5 8% below CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
45.6±2.5Highest 11% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±1.7 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±4.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Brooklyn and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.2%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
17.6%±2.9Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Brooklyn and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
23.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±0.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Bristol and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,076±$6k 17% below CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$96,207±$15kHighest about the CT average |
| Brooklyn and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $277,800±$8k 24% below CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$315,200±$28kHighest 14% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,338±$45Highest 10% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,125±$98Lowest 24% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,449Highest 18% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$4,538 32% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±5.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
38.5%±19.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Below poverty line | 10.7%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
81.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest same as CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 11.4%±1.7Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
10.7%±5.4 CT: 16% |
| Bristol and Brooklyn 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 | #115 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #113 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bristol School District | Plainfield School District | Brooklyn School District |
| High school in town | Bristol Central High School | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
10.3Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.