Compare towns
Brookfield vs Columbus vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookfield has the most renters (15.9% rent).
Columbus has the most people working from home (22.2%).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.8%).
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 | Columbus | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,150Highest |
849Lowest |
1,016 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.7%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-7.9% NY: +4.2% |
+0.8%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 41.2±6.1 4% above NY |
43.6±11.8Highest 10% above NY |
34.5±6.6Lowest 13% below NY |
| Columbus and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±4.9Highest NY: 20.5% |
21.8%±9Highest NY: 20.5% |
15.6%±2.8Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±4Highest NY: 17.9% |
17.8%±6.1 NY: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.7Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Brookfield and Columbus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.8%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
19.1% NY: 40.2% |
28.2%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest NY: 7% |
2.8%±2.1 NY: 7% |
14.9%±11.2Highest NY: 7% |
| Plainfield and Columbus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,205±$9k 20% below NY |
$58,889±$11kLowest 32% below NY |
$70,673±$6kHighest 18% below NY |
| Plainfield and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $152,800±$28k 64% below NY |
$124,700±$36kLowest 71% below NY |
$155,100±$17kHighest 63% below NY |
| Plainfield and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $981±$75 39% below NY |
$1,500±$635Highest 7% below NY |
$750±$207Lowest 54% below NY |
| Columbus and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,197Highest 51% below NY |
$3,071 53% below NY |
$2,667Lowest 59% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.4%±35.6 NY: 52.1% |
53.6%±92.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
40.6%±43.5Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Columbus and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.6%Highest NY: 14% |
9.6% NY: 14% |
7.8%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
88.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
87.6% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 19 yrs newer than NY |
1983Highest 24 yrs newer than NY |
1977Lowest 18 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 11% above NY |
32 min about the NY average |
29 minLowest 10% below NY |
| Work from home | 11.5%±4.1Lowest NY: 14.9% |
22.2%±16.1Highest NY: 14.9% |
11.5%±4.7Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Columbus and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NY 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.