Compare towns

Brooklyn vs Lowell vs Plainfield vs Danielson

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).
Lowell has the most expensive homes ($429k median).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Danielson has the most affordable homes ($225k 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.

MeasureBrooklynLowellPlainfieldDanielson
People
Population
8,517
118,368Highest
15,141
4,209Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+8.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+2.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.6±2.5Highest
17% above U.S.
35.6±0.8
8% below U.S.
37±4.5
5% below U.S.
34.5±3.6Lowest
11% below U.S.
Kids under 18
20.6%±4.6
U.S.: 22%
21.7%±1.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.4%±2.6
U.S.: 22%
18.9%±6.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Lowell and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.6%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
12.6%±0.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.6%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
13.6%±4.9
U.S.: 17.2%
Brooklyn and Plainfield 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%
30%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
15%
U.S.: 35.7%
11.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
9.7%±0.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
9.2%±6.6
U.S.: 6.4%
Lowell and Danielson 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.
$78,658±$4k
about the U.S. average
$76,993±$8k
5% below U.S.
$64,050±$15kLowest
21% below U.S.
Brooklyn and Lowell 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.
$429,200±$11kHighest
29% above U.S.
$272,100±$16k
18% below U.S.
$224,600±$13kLowest
32% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,125±$98Lowest
20% below U.S.
$1,625±$40Highest
15% above U.S.
$1,204±$70
15% below U.S.
$1,235±$194
13% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,538Highest
45% above U.S.
$4,499
44% above U.S.
$4,209
35% above U.S.
$4,009Lowest
29% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.5%±19.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.4%±3.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
39.8%±9.5
U.S.: 51.1%
44.7%±17.1
U.S.: 51.1%
Lowell and Danielson 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%
16.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
21.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
43.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
53%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978Highest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1953
27 yrs older than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1951Lowest
29 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the U.S. average
28 min
6% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
28 minHighest
8% above U.S.
Work from home
10.7%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.6%±1.3
U.S.: 15.1%
10%±4
U.S.: 15.1%
6.6%±5.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Brooklyn and Lowell 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 #255 of 282 in MA #131 of 149 in CT —
School district Brooklyn School District Lowell Plainfield School District —
High school in town None in town Lowell High Plainfield High School —
Students per teacherat that high school —
14.8Highest
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.