Compare towns

Brooklyn vs Plainfield vs Sterling

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 renters (26.4% rent).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 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.

MeasureBrooklynPlainfieldSterling
People
Population
8,517
15,141Highest
3,629Lowest
Median age
45.6±2.5Highest
11% above CT
37±4.5Lowest
10% below CT
39.4±5.9
4% below CT
Brooklyn and Sterling 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%
22.8%±5.9Highest
CT: 20.2%
Sterling and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.6%±2.9Highest
CT: 18.5%
16.6%±2.4
CT: 18.5%
13%±3.8Lowest
CT: 18.5%
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%Highest
CT: 42.5%
15%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
18%
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.7
CT: 7.1%
5.6%±1.8Highest
CT: 7.1%
3.7%±1.9Lowest
CT: 7.1%
Plainfield and Brooklyn 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
$102,695±$12kHighest
7% above CT
Sterling 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±$28kHighest
14% below CT
$272,100±$16kLowest
26% below CT
$283,400±$17k
23% below CT
Brooklyn and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,125±$98Lowest
24% below CT
$1,204±$70Highest
19% below CT
—
Plainfield and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,538
32% below CT
$4,209Lowest
37% below CT
$4,551Highest
31% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.5%±19.3
CT: 52.6%
39.8%±9.5Highest
CT: 52.6%
32%±18.1Lowest
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%
8.3%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.7%Highest
CT: 66.5%
73.6%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
81.1%
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
35 minHighest
34% above CT
Work from home
10.7%±5.4
CT: 16%
10%±4Lowest
CT: 16%
11.6%±6.4Highest
CT: 16%
Sterling 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 #119 of 149 in CT
School district Brooklyn School District Plainfield School District Sterling 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.