Compare towns

Brookfield vs Middlefield vs Plainfield vs Roxbury

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%).
Middlefield has the oldest population (median age 56.9).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).
Roxbury has the most kids (30.6% under 18).

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.

MeasureBrookfieldMiddlefieldPlainfieldRoxbury
People
Population
1,486Highest
352Lowest
1,314
942
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
-26.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
47±5.9
21% above U.S.
56.9±3.7Highest
46% above U.S.
48.1±5.5
24% above U.S.
35.6±11.7Lowest
8% below U.S.
Middlefield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.8%±4.1
U.S.: 22%
4.5%±9.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
16.3%±4.7
U.S.: 22%
30.6%±5Highest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
29.7%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
28.7%±8.5
U.S.: 17.2%
21.1%±3.5
U.S.: 17.2%
18.7%±8.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Brookfield and Middlefield 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%
31.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
48.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
29.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.2%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±4.8
U.S.: 6.4%
2.1%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±2.3
U.S.: 6.4%
Brookfield and Middlefield 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.
$103,750±$23kHighest
29% above U.S.
$69,250±$31kLowest
14% below U.S.
$73,214±$22k
9% below U.S.
Middlefield 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±$15kHighest
about the U.S. average
$332,800±$48k
about the U.S. average
$318,400±$34k
4% below U.S.
$242,600±$55kLowest
27% below U.S.
Brookfield and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$975±$306
31% below U.S.
$2,625±$1kHighest
86% above U.S.
$1,153±$103
18% below U.S.
$950±$495Lowest
33% below U.S.
Middlefield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,560
46% above U.S.
$4,926Highest
58% above U.S.
$4,806
54% above U.S.
$4,284Lowest
37% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
30.4%±27.8
U.S.: 51.1%
100%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
73.2%±53.9
U.S.: 51.1%
16.7%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Middlefield and Plainfield 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%
12.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
27.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
94.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
94%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975Highest
5 yrs older than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1955Lowest
25 yrs older than U.S.
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
37 minHighest
38% above U.S.
30 min
13% above U.S.
24 minLowest
9% below U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
27.3%±10.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.2%±9.2
U.S.: 15.1%
16.4%±4.4
U.S.: 15.1%
5.2%±3.8Lowest
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 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.