Compare towns

Brookfield vs Leyden vs Plainfield

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 (27.3%).
Leyden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).

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.

MeasureBrookfieldLeydenPlainfield
People
Population
1,486Highest
637Lowest
1,314
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
47±5.9Lowest
21% above U.S.
53.2±8.2Highest
37% above U.S.
48.1±5.5
24% above U.S.
Leyden and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.8%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
13.8%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
16.3%±4.7
U.S.: 22%
Brookfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
29.7%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
28.6%±2.7
U.S.: 17.2%
21.1%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Brookfield and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
45.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
40%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
48.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.2%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
0.5%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.1%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
Brookfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$98,500±$23k
22% above U.S.
$105,893±$13kHighest
31% above U.S.
$69,250±$31kLowest
14% below U.S.
Leyden and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$339,300±$15k
about the U.S. average
$372,900±$24kHighest
12% above U.S.
$318,400±$34kLowest
4% below U.S.
Leyden and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$975±$306Lowest
31% below U.S.
$1,917±$451Highest
36% above U.S.
$1,153±$103
18% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,560Lowest
46% above U.S.
$4,651
49% above U.S.
$4,806Highest
54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
30.4%±27.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.9%±100
U.S.: 51.1%
73.2%±53.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Plainfield and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
93.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1955Lowest
25 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
37 minHighest
38% above U.S.
33 min
23% above U.S.
24 minLowest
9% below U.S.
Work from home
27.3%±10.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11%±5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.4%±4.4
U.S.: 15.1%
Brookfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 — —
High school in town None in town — —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.