Compare towns
Brooklyn vs Nelson 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).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k 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.
| Measure | Brooklyn | Nelson | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,517 |
648Lowest |
15,141Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -13.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 45.6±2.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7 9% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Brooklyn and Nelson 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%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson 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% |
24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest 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. |
$99,792±$23kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Nelson 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. |
$340,900±$49kHighest about the U.S. average |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Nelson 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. |
$1,203±$243 15% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70Highest 15% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Nelson 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. |
$5,575Highest 79% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.5%±19.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Nelson and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 10.7%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest 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 | Nelson School District | 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.