Compare towns

Brooklyn vs Calais 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

Brooklyn has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
Calais has the most people working from home (23.4%).
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.

MeasureBrooklynCalaisPlainfield
People
Population
8,517
1,713Lowest
15,141Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+3.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
45.6±2.5Highest
17% above U.S.
42±8.6
8% above U.S.
37±4.5Lowest
5% below U.S.
Brooklyn and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.6%±4.6
U.S.: 22%
22.5%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.4%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Calais and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.6%±2.9
U.S.: 17.2%
21.6%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.6%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Calais and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
23.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
55.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
15%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
7.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
Calais and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$96,207±$15k
19% above U.S.
$100,625±$27kHighest
25% above U.S.
$76,993±$8kLowest
5% below U.S.
Calais and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$315,200±$28k
5% below U.S.
$390,300±$36kHighest
17% above U.S.
$272,100±$16kLowest
18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,125±$98Lowest
20% below U.S.
$1,408±$392Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,204±$70
15% below U.S.
Calais and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,538
45% above U.S.
$6,586Highest
111% above U.S.
$4,209Lowest
35% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.5%±19.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
49%±38.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
39.8%±9.5
U.S.: 51.1%
Calais and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
92.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978Highest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the U.S. average
31 minHighest
18% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
10.7%±5.4
U.S.: 15.1%
23.4%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10%±4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #113 of 149 in CT — #131 of 149 in CT
School district Brooklyn School District Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Plainfield School District
High school in town None in town None in town Plainfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
10.3
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.