Compare towns

Brooklyn vs Needham vs Plainfield vs Pomfret

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Pomfret has the shortest commute (24 min average).

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.

MeasureBrooklynNeedhamPlainfieldPomfret
People
Population
8,517
32,459Highest
15,141
4,317Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+11.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
— —
Median age
45.6±2.5
17% above U.S.
43.1±1.6
11% above U.S.
37±4.5Lowest
5% below U.S.
45.9±3.7Highest
18% above U.S.
Pomfret 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%
27.5%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.4%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.1%±4.9
U.S.: 22%
Needham and Pomfret 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%
17.7%±1.7
U.S.: 17.2%
16.6%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.8%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Pomfret and Needham 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%
81.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
15%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
50.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$96,207±$15k
19% above U.S.
$214,308±$13kHighest
165% above U.S.
$76,993±$8kLowest
5% below U.S.
$108,476±$8k
34% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$315,200±$28k
5% below U.S.
$1,188,500±$43kHighest
257% above U.S.
$272,100±$16kLowest
18% below U.S.
$409,100±$28k
23% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,125±$98Lowest
20% below U.S.
$2,409±$183Highest
70% above U.S.
$1,204±$70
15% below U.S.
$1,210±$300
14% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,538
45% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$4,209Lowest
35% above U.S.
$5,903
89% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.5%±19.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
55.9%±8.5
U.S.: 51.1%
39.8%±9.5
U.S.: 51.1%
61.9%±15.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Pomfret and Needham 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%
3.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
83.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978Highest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1965Lowest
15 yrs older than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1978Highest
2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the U.S. average
28 minHighest
5% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
24 minLowest
11% below U.S.
Work from home
10.7%±5.4
U.S.: 15.1%
32.4%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10%±4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.2%±5.2
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #113 of 149 in CT #19 of 282 in MA #131 of 149 in CT #39 of 149 in CT
School district Brooklyn School District — Plainfield School District Pomfret School District
High school in town None in town — Plainfield High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school — —
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.