Compare towns
Brooklyn vs Hamden vs Madison 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).
Hamden has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Madison has the most people working from home (30.2%).
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.
| Measure | Brooklyn | Hamden | Madison | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,517Lowest |
61,045Highest |
17,616 |
15,141 |
| Median age | 45.6±2.5 11% above CT |
38.7±0.9 6% below CT |
51.9±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±4.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
17%±1.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.1%±2.2 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%±2.9 CT: 18.5% |
18.1%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
25.2%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.9% CT: 42.5% |
47.8% CT: 42.5% |
72.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $96,207±$15k about the CT average |
$98,306±$7k about the CT average |
$167,442±$16kHighest 75% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $315,200±$28k 14% below CT |
$298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
$583,900±$30kHighest 59% above CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$98Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,746±$50 17% above CT |
$2,025±$741Highest 36% above CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
| Madison and Hamden 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 |
$7,784 17% above CT |
$8,843Highest 33% above CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.5%±19.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
44%±12.3 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
| Hamden and Madison 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% |
9.3%Highest CT: 10% |
3.6% CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.7% CT: 66.5% |
62.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
90.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
30 minHighest 12% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 10.7%±5.4 CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1 CT: 16% |
30.2%±5.3Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #113 of 149 in CT | #122 of 149 in CT | #7 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Brooklyn School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Madison School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hamden High School | Daniel Hand High School | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
9.8Lowest |
10.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.