Compare towns
Brooklyn vs Plainfield vs Stoneham vs Stafford
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 homeowners (81.7%).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Stoneham has the most people working from home (24.6%).
Stafford has the most kids (21.5% 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.
| Measure | Brooklyn | Plainfield | Stoneham | Stafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,517Lowest |
15,141 |
23,355Highest |
11,511 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 45.6±2.5 17% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
42.2±2.2 8% above U.S. |
46.7±4.8Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Stafford and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Stafford and Stoneham 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% |
20.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stafford and Stoneham 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% |
55.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 19% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$113,964±$10kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$93,235±$16k 15% above U.S. |
| Stoneham 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±$16k 18% below U.S. |
$671,900±$26kHighest 102% above U.S. |
$263,800±$22kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$98 20% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$2,035±$142Highest 44% above U.S. |
$1,086±$85Lowest 23% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,538 45% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$6,523Highest 109% above U.S. |
$5,131 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% |
41.9%±8.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.5%±12.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stoneham and Stafford 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
71%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 10.7%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #113 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #117 of 282 in MA | #96 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Brooklyn School District | Plainfield School District | Stoneham | Stafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Plainfield High School | Stoneham High | Stafford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3 |
10.7Highest |
9.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.