Compare towns
Brooklyn vs Orange vs Putnam vs Plainfield
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).
Putnam has the most renters (49.3% rent).
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.
| Measure | Brooklyn | Orange | Putnam | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,517 |
14,315 |
7,120Lowest |
15,141Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -2.1% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 45.6±2.5Highest 11% above CT |
45.6±2.4Highest 11% above CT |
41.2±5.1 about the CT average |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±4.6 CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.9%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Orange 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 CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
17%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Orange 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% CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
18.8% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest 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 |
$65,511±$7kLowest 32% below CT |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $315,200±$28k 14% below CT |
$491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
$245,100±$13kLowest 33% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$98Lowest 24% below CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,147±$43 23% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,538 32% below CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$3,564Lowest 46% below CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.5%±19.3 CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
38.2%±12.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
| Below poverty line | 2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
3.9% CT: 10% |
11.7%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.7% CT: 66.5% |
89.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
50.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
28 minHighest 4% above CT |
25 minLowest 5% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 10.7%±5.4 CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9Highest CT: 16% |
6.7%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
| Orange 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 | #38 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Brooklyn School District | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | — | 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 | 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.