Compare towns
Brooklyn vs Orange vs Plainfield vs Stafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orange has the most expensive homes ($492k median).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Stafford has the most affordable homes ($264k 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 | Orange | Plainfield | Stafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,517Lowest |
14,315 |
15,141Highest |
11,511 |
| Median age | 45.6±2.5 11% above CT |
45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
46.7±4.8Highest 14% above CT |
| Stafford 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 CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
21.5%±3.1 CT: 20.2% |
| Orange and Stafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±2.9 CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
22%±3 CT: 18.5% |
| Orange and Stafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.9% CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
28.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.5%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Plainfield and Orange 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 about the CT average |
$142,325±$10kHighest 49% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$93,235±$16k about the CT average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $315,200±$28k 14% below CT |
$491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$263,800±$22kLowest 28% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$98 24% below CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,086±$85Lowest 27% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,538 32% below CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$5,131 23% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.5%±19.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
41.5%±12.2 CT: 52.6% |
| Orange and Stafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
3.9% CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
7.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.7% CT: 66.5% |
89.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
79.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
28 minHighest 4% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
26 minLowest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 10.7%±5.4 CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
11%±3.5 CT: 16% |
| Orange and Stafford 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 | #38 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #96 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Brooklyn School District | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Plainfield School District | Stafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Plainfield High School | Stafford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.3Highest |
9.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
CT 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.