Compare towns

Brooklyn vs Cranston 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).
Cranston has the most people working from home (13%).
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.

MeasureBrooklynCranstonPlainfield
People
Population
8,517Lowest
83,250Highest
15,141
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+3.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
45.6±2.5Highest
17% above U.S.
39.6±0.9
about the U.S. average
37±4.5Lowest
5% below U.S.
Kids under 18
20.6%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.6%±1.4
U.S.: 22%
19.4%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Brooklyn and Cranston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.6%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.8%±1.1
U.S.: 17.2%
16.6%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Brooklyn and Cranston 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%
36.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
15%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.3%±0.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
Cranston 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±$15kHighest
19% above U.S.
$90,206±$4k
12% above U.S.
$76,993±$8kLowest
5% below U.S.
Brooklyn and Cranston 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.
$378,300±$7kHighest
14% above U.S.
$272,100±$16kLowest
18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,125±$98Lowest
20% below U.S.
$1,375±$59Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,204±$70
15% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,538
45% above U.S.
$5,103Highest
64% above U.S.
$4,209Lowest
35% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.5%±19.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
47.3%±6Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
39.8%±9.5
U.S.: 51.1%
Cranston 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%
10.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
67.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978Highest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1958Lowest
22 yrs older than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
24 minLowest
8% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
10.7%±5.4
U.S.: 15.1%
13%±1.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10%±4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Cranston and Brooklyn 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 #113 of 149 in CT #27 of 38 in RI #131 of 149 in CT
School district Brooklyn School District Achievement First Rhode Island · Cranston Plainfield School District
High school in town None in town Cranston High School West Plainfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
15.4Highest
10.3Lowest
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.