Compare towns

Brooklyn vs Middlesex 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 oldest population (median age 45.6).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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.

MeasureBrooklynMiddlesexPlainfield
People
Population
8,517
1,943Lowest
15,141Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+2.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
45.6±2.5Highest
17% above U.S.
44.4±3.9
14% above U.S.
37±4.5Lowest
5% below U.S.
Brooklyn and Middlesex 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%
21.3%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.4%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Middlesex 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%
20.6%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.6%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Middlesex 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%
54.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
15%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
5.2%±2.6Lowest
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.
$109,632±$13kHighest
36% above U.S.
$76,993±$8kLowest
5% below U.S.
Middlesex and Brooklyn 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.
$376,300±$40kHighest
13% above U.S.
$272,100±$16kLowest
18% below U.S.
Middlesex and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,125±$98Lowest
20% below U.S.
$1,333±$359Highest
6% below U.S.
$1,204±$70
15% below U.S.
Middlesex 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.
$6,483Highest
108% above U.S.
$4,209Lowest
35% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.5%±19.3
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
39.8%±9.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Plainfield and Brooklyn 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%
3.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
96.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the U.S. average
27 minHighest
4% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
10.7%±5.4
U.S.: 15.1%
28.4%±10.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10%±4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #113 of 149 in CT — #131 of 149 in CT
School district Brooklyn School District Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Plainfield School District
High school in town None in town None in town Plainfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
10.3
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.