Compare towns
Brooklyn vs Plainfield vs Shirley
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 kids (20.6% under 18).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Shirley has the most people working from home (21%).
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 | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,517 |
15,141Highest |
6,976Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±2.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
44.3±3.4 14% above U.S. |
| Brooklyn and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brooklyn and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Shirley 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.7%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% |
5.7%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Shirley 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 19% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$122,365±$16kHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Shirley 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. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$427,600±$36kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$98Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,481±$421Highest 5% above U.S. |
| Shirley 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. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$5,156Highest 65% 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% |
57.1%±21.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Shirley 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% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.7%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±7.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Shirley 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 | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brooklyn School District | Plainfield School District | Ayer Shirley 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 |
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.