Compare towns

Brooklyn vs Exeter 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).
Exeter has the most expensive homes ($509k median).
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.

MeasureBrooklynExeterPlainfield
People
Population
8,517
7,195Lowest
15,141Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+0.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
45.6±2.5Highest
17% above U.S.
37.7±5.9
3% below U.S.
37±4.5Lowest
5% below U.S.
Brooklyn and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.6%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.7%±4.7
U.S.: 22%
19.4%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Brooklyn and Exeter 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%
18.2%±3.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.6%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Exeter 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%
46.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
15%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
11.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
Exeter 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.
$111,250±$30kHighest
38% above U.S.
$76,993±$8kLowest
5% below U.S.
Exeter 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.
$509,200±$43kHighest
53% above U.S.
$272,100±$16kLowest
18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,125±$98Lowest
20% below U.S.
$1,317±$307Highest
7% below U.S.
$1,204±$70
15% below U.S.
Exeter 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.
$5,881Highest
89% above U.S.
$4,209Lowest
35% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.5%±19.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
91%±26.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
39.8%±9.5
U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line
2.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
73.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
22 minLowest
15% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
10.7%±5.4
U.S.: 15.1%
17.2%±6.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10%±4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Exeter 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 #14 of 38 in RI #131 of 149 in CT
School district Brooklyn School District Exeter-West Greenwich 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.