Compare towns
Brooklyn vs Putnam vs Thompson vs Plainfield
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 most expensive homes ($315k median).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Thompson has the most people working from home (13.1%).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
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 | Putnam | Thompson | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,517Lowest |
9,292 |
9,337 |
15,141Highest |
| Median age | 45.6±2.5 11% above CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±4.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
| 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 CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Thompson and Putnam 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% |
20% CT: 42.5% |
21.9% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest 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±$15kHighest about the CT average |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$93,629±$18k about the CT average |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
| Brooklyn and Thompson 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 |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$291,900±$24k 20% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
| Brooklyn and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$98 24% below CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
$1,204±$70Highest 19% below CT |
| Plainfield and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,538Highest 32% below CT |
$3,860 42% below CT |
$3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.5%±19.3 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
| Thompson 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 CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
5.9% CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.7% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
84.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1963 4 yrs older than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 10.7%±5.4 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
| Thompson 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #130 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Brooklyn School District | Putnam School District | Thompson School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Putnam High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5 |
7.9Lowest |
10.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.