Compare towns

Brookfield vs Killingly vs Plainfield vs Thompson

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brookfield has the most expensive homes ($480k median).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).

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.

MeasureBrookfieldKillinglyPlainfieldThompson
People
Population
17,706
17,867Highest
15,141
9,337Lowest
Median age
44.3±1.8
8% above CT
39.5±3
4% below CT
37±4.5Lowest
10% below CT
54.1±2.2Highest
32% above CT
Kids under 18
22.7%±3Highest
CT: 20.2%
19.8%±2.3
CT: 20.2%
19.4%±2.6
CT: 20.2%
11.4%±2.8Lowest
CT: 20.2%
Brookfield and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.8%±2.8
CT: 18.5%
19.7%±2.4
CT: 18.5%
16.6%±2.4Lowest
CT: 18.5%
24.4%±4.3Highest
CT: 18.5%
Thompson and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
58.3%Highest
CT: 42.5%
22.9%
CT: 42.5%
15%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
21.9%
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.3%±1.4
CT: 7.1%
5.4%±1.9
CT: 7.1%
5.6%±1.8Highest
CT: 7.1%
2.9%±1.3Lowest
CT: 7.1%
Plainfield and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$148,360±$11kHighest
55% above CT
$84,350±$8k
12% below CT
$76,993±$8kLowest
20% below CT
$93,629±$18k
about the CT average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$479,700±$24kHighest
31% above CT
$288,600±$15k
21% below CT
$272,100±$16kLowest
26% below CT
$291,900±$24k
20% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,892±$183Highest
27% above CT
$1,044±$141
30% below CT
$1,204±$70
19% below CT
$1,012±$344Lowest
32% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,594Highest
14% above CT
$3,922
41% below CT
$4,209
37% below CT
$3,822Lowest
42% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
35.9%±13.1Lowest
CT: 52.6%
42.8%±10.9
CT: 52.6%
39.8%±9.5
CT: 52.6%
54%±18.7Highest
CT: 52.6%
Thompson and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.1%Lowest
CT: 10%
11.4%Highest
CT: 10%
8.7%
CT: 10%
5.9%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.5%Highest
CT: 66.5%
71.6%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
73.6%
CT: 66.5%
84.3%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978Highest
11 yrs newer than CT
1968
1 yr newer than CT
1971
4 yrs newer than CT
1963Lowest
4 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
6% above CT
28 min
5% above CT
27 minLowest
about the CT average
32 minHighest
20% above CT
Work from home
16.3%±3Highest
CT: 16%
11.1%±2.3
CT: 16%
10%±4Lowest
CT: 16%
13.1%±4.4
CT: 16%
Brookfield and Thompson 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 #67 of 149 in CT #136 of 149 in CT #131 of 149 in CT #130 of 149 in CT
School district Brookfield School District Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Plainfield School District Thompson School District
High school in town Brookfield High School Killingly High School Plainfield High School Tourtellotte Memorial High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.7Highest
11.1
10.3
7.9Lowest
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.