Compare towns

Brookfield vs Killingly vs Plainville vs Hampden

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brookfield has the most people working from home (12%).
Killingly has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Hampden has the highest household income ($105k).

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.

MeasureBrookfieldKillinglyPlainvilleHampden
People
Population
3,460Lowest
17,867Highest
17,551
4,946
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
— —
-3.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
52.4±2.1Highest
35% above U.S.
39.5±3Lowest
about the U.S. average
44.3±1.5
14% above U.S.
50.9±3.3
31% above U.S.
Brookfield and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
13.4%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.6%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
14%±3.5
U.S.: 22%
Killingly and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
28.4%±5.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.1%±2.8
U.S.: 17.2%
26.8%±5.1
U.S.: 17.2%
Brookfield and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
28.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
22.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
30%
U.S.: 35.7%
36.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.2%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
6.2%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.6%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$81,250±$37kLowest
about the U.S. average
$84,350±$8k
4% above U.S.
$84,343±$7k
4% above U.S.
$104,536±$16kHighest
29% above U.S.
Hampden and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$341,900±$23k
about the U.S. average
$288,600±$15k
13% below U.S.
$254,000±$14kLowest
24% below U.S.
$358,200±$16kHighest
8% above U.S.
Hampden and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,014±$161Lowest
28% below U.S.
$1,044±$141
26% below U.S.
$1,126±$147
20% below U.S.
$1,132±$107Highest
20% below U.S.
Hampden and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,092
63% above U.S.
$3,922Lowest
26% above U.S.
$4,798
54% above U.S.
$6,181Highest
98% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50.7%±11.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.8%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
40.3%±12.4
U.S.: 51.1%
36.9%±42.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Brookfield and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
67.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1966Lowest
14 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
23% above U.S.
28 min
6% above U.S.
21 minLowest
20% below U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
12%±5.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
10.7%±2
U.S.: 15.1%
9.9%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Brookfield and Killingly 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 #109 of 282 in MA #136 of 149 in CT #89 of 149 in CT #199 of 282 in MA
School district Brookfield Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Judicial Centers · Plainville School District Hampden-Wilbraham
High school in town None in town Killingly High School Plainville High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.1Lowest
11.4Highest
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.