Compare towns

Brooklyn vs Northbridge 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 most homeowners (81.7%).
Northbridge has the most people working from home (16.2%).
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.

MeasureBrooklynNorthbridgePlainfield
People
Population
8,517Lowest
16,458Highest
15,141
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+4%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
45.6±2.5Highest
17% above U.S.
43.8±2.6
13% above U.S.
37±4.5Lowest
5% below U.S.
Brooklyn and Northbridge 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%
21.1%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.4%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Northbridge 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%
16.4%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.6%±2.4
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%
36.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
15%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
4.3%±1.3Lowest
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.
$111,319±$19kHighest
38% above U.S.
$76,993±$8kLowest
5% below U.S.
Northbridge 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.
$448,600±$15kHighest
35% above U.S.
$272,100±$16kLowest
18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,125±$98Lowest
20% below U.S.
$1,207±$102Highest
15% below U.S.
$1,204±$70
15% below U.S.
Northbridge 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.
$4,821Highest
55% above U.S.
$4,209Lowest
35% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.5%±19.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
51.2%±9.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
39.8%±9.5
U.S.: 51.1%
Northbridge and Plainfield 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%
7.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
70.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978Highest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1973
7 yrs older than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the U.S. average
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
10.7%±5.4
U.S.: 15.1%
16.2%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10%±4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Northbridge and Brooklyn 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 #226 of 282 in MA #131 of 149 in CT
School district Brooklyn School District Northbridge Plainfield School District
High school in town None in town Northbridge High Plainfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.8Highest
10.3Lowest
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.