Compare towns
Brooklyn vs Danvers vs Sterling 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 most homeowners (81.7%).
Danvers has the most expensive homes ($644k median).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
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 | Brooklyn | Danvers | Sterling | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,517 |
28,098Highest |
3,629Lowest |
15,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 45.6±2.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
39.4±5.9 about the U.S. average |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Brooklyn and Danvers 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% |
17.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling 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% |
22.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Danvers 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% |
48.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Brooklyn 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. |
$125,395±$10kHighest 55% above U.S. |
$102,695±$12k 27% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $315,200±$28k 5% below U.S. |
$644,200±$23kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$283,400±$17k 15% below U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$98Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
— | $1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,538 45% above U.S. |
$6,654Highest 113% above U.S. |
$4,551 46% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.5%±19.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.8%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Danvers 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% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 10.7%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Danvers and Sterling 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 | #91 of 282 in MA | #119 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Brooklyn School District | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Sterling School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | None in town | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
— | 10.3Lowest |
| 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.