Compare towns
Brooklyn vs Plainfield vs Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brooklyn has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Salem has the most people working from home (18%).
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 | Plainfield | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,517 |
15,141Highest |
4,282Lowest |
| Median age | 45.6±2.5Highest 11% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
40.9±5.4 about the CT average |
| Brooklyn and Salem 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% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
23.2%±5.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Salem 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% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Salem 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% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
50.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Salem and Plainfield 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 |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$123,245±$8kHighest 29% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $315,200±$28k 14% below CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$403,600±$33kHighest 10% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$98Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,440±$150Highest 3% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,538 32% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$6,668Highest about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.5%±19.3 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
32.1%±26Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Plainfield and Brooklyn 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% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
6.2% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.7% CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
32 minHighest 19% above CT |
| Work from home | 10.7%±5.4 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
18%±9.6Highest CT: 16% |
| Salem 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 | #11 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Brooklyn School District | Plainfield School District | Salem School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.