Compare towns

Brooklyn vs Griswold vs Ware 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 highest household income ($96k).
Griswold has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
Ware has the most people working from home (12.3%).
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.

MeasureBrooklynGriswoldWarePlainfield
People
Population
8,517Lowest
11,530
10,048
15,141Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — —
+2%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
45.6±2.5
17% above U.S.
48.1±3.9Highest
24% above U.S.
43.1±4.7
11% above U.S.
37±4.5Lowest
5% below U.S.
Griswold and Brooklyn 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%
18.5%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.1%±3.5
U.S.: 22%
19.4%±2.6
U.S.: 22%
Brooklyn and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.6%±2.9
U.S.: 17.2%
17.8%±3.5
U.S.: 17.2%
20.6%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.6%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Ware and Griswold 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%
19.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
24%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
15%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
1.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.4%±2.2
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±$15kHighest
19% above U.S.
$78,719±$11k
about the U.S. average
$67,475±$15kLowest
16% below U.S.
$76,993±$8k
5% below U.S.
Brooklyn and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$315,200±$28kHighest
5% below U.S.
$275,900±$42k
17% below U.S.
$289,700±$28k
13% below U.S.
$272,100±$16kLowest
18% below U.S.
Brooklyn and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,125±$98
20% below U.S.
$1,177±$65
17% below U.S.
$1,043±$109Lowest
26% below U.S.
$1,204±$70Highest
15% below U.S.
Plainfield and Griswold 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.
$4,628Highest
48% above U.S.
$4,237
36% above U.S.
$4,209Lowest
35% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.5%±19.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
57.5%±15.5
U.S.: 51.1%
64.3%±16.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
39.8%±9.5
U.S.: 51.1%
Ware and Griswold 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%
7.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
72.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978Highest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1960Lowest
20 yrs older than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the U.S. average
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
28 min
8% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
10.7%±5.4
U.S.: 15.1%
9%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.3%±3.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10%±4
U.S.: 15.1%
Ware 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 #118 of 149 in CT #267 of 282 in MA #131 of 149 in CT
School district Brooklyn School District Griswold School District Ware Plainfield School District
High school in town None in town Griswold High School Ware Junior/Senior High School Plainfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.5Highest
11.1
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.