Compare towns
Brooklyn vs Plainfield vs Suffield vs Willimantic
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).
Suffield has the most people working from home (18.4%).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% 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.
| Measure | Brooklyn | Plainfield | Suffield | Willimantic |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,517Lowest |
15,141 |
15,702 |
18,096Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 45.6±2.5Highest 11% above CT |
37±4.5 10% below CT |
44.5±1.7 8% above CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
| Brooklyn and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±4.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±2.9 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
18.4%±2.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Suffield 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% |
40.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
24.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $96,207±$15k about the CT average |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
$119,472±$13kHighest 25% above CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
| Suffield 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 14% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$98 24% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,424±$141Highest 4% below CT |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,538 32% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$6,456Highest about the CT average |
$4,678 30% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.5%±19.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Willimantic and Suffield 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% CT: 10% |
4.6% CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.7% CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
86.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the CT average |
27 min about the CT average |
26 min 3% below CT |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
| Work from home | 10.7%±5.4 CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
| Suffield 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Brooklyn School District | Plainfield School District | Suffield School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Plainfield High School | Suffield High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3Lowest |
10.9Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.