Compare towns

Brooklyn vs Plainfield vs Providence

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 highest household income ($96k).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Providence has the most renters (58.6% rent).

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.

MeasureBrooklynPlainfieldProvidence
People
Population
8,517Lowest
15,141
191,767Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — —
+7.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.6±2.5Highest
17% above U.S.
37±4.5
5% below U.S.
32.8±0.5Lowest
16% below U.S.
Kids under 18
20.6%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.4%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.1%±1
U.S.: 22%
Brooklyn and Providence 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%
16.6%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
11.6%±0.7Lowest
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%
15%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
14.4%±0.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$96,207±$15kHighest
19% above U.S.
$76,993±$8k
5% below U.S.
$68,119±$3kLowest
16% below U.S.
Brooklyn and Plainfield 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.
$272,100±$16kLowest
18% below U.S.
$362,200±$8kHighest
9% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,125±$98Lowest
20% below U.S.
$1,204±$70
15% below U.S.
$1,408±$42Highest
about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,538Highest
45% above U.S.
$4,209Lowest
35% above U.S.
$4,418
42% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.5%±19.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
39.8%±9.5
U.S.: 51.1%
48%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Providence 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%
8.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
20.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
41.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978Highest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
27 min
about the U.S. average
25 minLowest
5% below U.S.
Work from home
10.7%±5.4
U.S.: 15.1%
10%±4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.3%±1.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Providence 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 #131 of 149 in CT #36 of 38 in RI
School district Brooklyn School District Plainfield School District MET Career and Tech · Urban Collaborative
High school in town None in town Plainfield High School Classical High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.3Lowest
17.2Highest
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.