Compare towns
Brookfield vs Washington vs Plainfield
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 highest household income ($148k).
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k median).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Brookfield | Washington | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,706Highest |
3,676Lowest |
15,141 |
| Median age | 44.3±1.8 8% above CT |
49.9±5.5Highest 21% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
| Washington and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
19%±4.7Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Brookfield and Plainfield 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% |
26.9%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Washington and Brookfield 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% |
53.7% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.4%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Washington and Plainfield 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 |
$101,549±$16k 6% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $479,700±$24k 31% above CT |
$660,200±$130kHighest 80% above CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,892±$183Highest 27% above CT |
$1,204±$264Lowest 19% below CT |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,594Highest 14% above CT |
$4,709 29% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.9%±13.1 CT: 52.6% |
26.1%±24Lowest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Plainfield and Brookfield 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% |
9%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
79% CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above CT |
26 minLowest 4% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 16.3%±3 CT: 16% |
20.1%±9Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Washington and Brookfield 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 | #17 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Brookfield School District | Regional School District 12 | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Brookfield High School | Shepaug Valley School | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
9.1Lowest |
10.3 |
| 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.