Compare towns
Brooklyn vs Lowell vs Plainfield vs Griswold
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).
Lowell has the most renters (56.8% rent).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Griswold has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
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 | Lowell | Plainfield | Griswold |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,517Lowest |
118,368Highest |
15,141 |
11,530 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 45.6±2.5 17% above U.S. |
35.6±0.8Lowest 8% below U.S. |
37±4.5 5% below U.S. |
48.1±3.9Highest 24% above 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%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±1.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±3.7Lowest 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%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Griswold 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% |
30%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.7%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $96,207±$15kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$78,658±$4k about the U.S. average |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$78,719±$11k about the U.S. average |
| 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±$28k 5% below U.S. |
$429,200±$11kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$275,900±$42k 17% 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. |
$1,177±$65 17% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,538 45% above U.S. |
$4,499 44% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$4,628Highest 48% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.5%±19.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±3.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±15.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Griswold and Lowell 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.6% 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% |
73.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 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 |
31 minHighest 17% 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% |
9%±3.6Lowest 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 | #118 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Brooklyn School District | Lowell | Plainfield School District | Griswold School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Lowell High | Plainfield High School | Griswold High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.8Highest |
10.3Lowest |
11.5 |
| 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.