Compare towns
Brooklyn vs Reading vs Plainfield vs Canterbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k median).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Canterbury has the most homeowners (88.7%).
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 | Reading | Plainfield | Canterbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,517 |
25,612Highest |
15,141 |
5,124Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 45.6±2.5 17% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
48.4±4.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Canterbury 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% |
22.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
15%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Reading and Brooklyn 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% |
20.7%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Canterbury and Reading 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% |
66.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2 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. |
$165,912±$13kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$103,198±$6k 28% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $315,200±$28k 5% below U.S. |
$809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$334,200±$12k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$98 20% below U.S. |
$1,991±$273Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$924±$367Lowest 35% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,538 45% above U.S. |
$9,320Highest 199% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
$4,140Lowest 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.5%±19.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±13Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Canterbury 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% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.7%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.7%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #113 of 149 in CT | #50 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT | #125 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Brooklyn School District | Reading | Plainfield School District | Canterbury School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Reading Memorial High | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
10.3Lowest |
— |
| 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.