Compare towns

Brooklyn vs Durham vs Plainfield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brooklyn has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
Durham has the most people working from home (20.5%).
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.

MeasureBrooklynDurhamPlainfield
People
Population
8,517
7,208Lowest
15,141Highest
Median age
45.6±2.5Highest
11% above CT
45.5±2.8
11% above CT
37±4.5Lowest
10% below CT
Brooklyn and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.6%±4.6Highest
CT: 20.2%
16.4%±3.6Lowest
CT: 20.2%
19.4%±2.6
CT: 20.2%
Brooklyn and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.6%±2.9Highest
CT: 18.5%
17.4%±3.7
CT: 18.5%
16.6%±2.4Lowest
CT: 18.5%
Brooklyn and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
23.9%
CT: 42.5%
47.9%Highest
CT: 42.5%
15%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.7
CT: 7.1%
3.6%±1.5Lowest
CT: 7.1%
5.6%±1.8Highest
CT: 7.1%
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
about the CT average
$158,857±$7kHighest
66% above CT
$76,993±$8kLowest
20% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$315,200±$28k
14% below CT
$424,800±$23kHighest
16% above CT
$272,100±$16kLowest
26% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,125±$98Lowest
24% below CT
$1,154±$448
22% below CT
$1,204±$70Highest
19% below CT
Plainfield and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,538
32% below CT
$7,998Highest
20% above CT
$4,209Lowest
37% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.5%±19.3Lowest
CT: 52.6%
44.9%±28.4Highest
CT: 52.6%
39.8%±9.5
CT: 52.6%
Durham 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
CT: 10%
3.4%
CT: 10%
8.7%Highest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.7%
CT: 66.5%
93.2%Highest
CT: 66.5%
73.6%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978Highest
11 yrs newer than CT
1976
9 yrs newer than CT
1971Lowest
4 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minHighest
about the CT average
23 minLowest
13% below CT
27 min
about the CT average
Work from home
10.7%±5.4
CT: 16%
20.5%±6.4Highest
CT: 16%
10%±4Lowest
CT: 16%
Durham 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 #88 of 149 in CT #131 of 149 in CT
School district Brooklyn School District Regional School District 13 Plainfield School District
High school in town None in town Coginchaug Regional High School Plainfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
8.9Lowest
10.3Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

CT 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.