Compare towns
Brooklyn vs Hanson vs Thompson 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
Hanson has the most expensive homes ($534k median).
Thompson has the most people working from home (13.1%).
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 | Hanson | Thompson | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,517Lowest |
10,660 |
9,337 |
15,141Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 45.6±2.5 17% above U.S. |
42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Hanson 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% |
19.7%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Hanson 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% |
42.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest 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. |
$132,200±$10kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $315,200±$28k 5% below U.S. |
$533,900±$36kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$98 20% below U.S. |
$1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
| Hanson 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. |
$6,402Highest 105% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.5%±19.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Thompson 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% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 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 |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 10.7%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thompson 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 | #149 of 282 in MA | #130 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Brooklyn School District | Whitman-Hanson | Thompson School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.7Highest |
7.9Lowest |
10.3 |
| 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.