Compare towns

Brooklyn vs Salem vs Killingly 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 oldest population (median age 45.6).
Salem has the most people working from home (18%).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
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.

MeasureBrooklynSalemKillinglyPlainfield
People
Population
8,517
4,282Lowest
17,867Highest
15,141
Median age
45.6±2.5Highest
11% above CT
40.9±5.4
about the CT average
39.5±3
4% below CT
37±4.5Lowest
10% below CT
Brooklyn and Salem 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%
23.2%±5.1Highest
CT: 20.2%
19.8%±2.3
CT: 20.2%
19.4%±2.6Lowest
CT: 20.2%
Salem 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
CT: 18.5%
19.7%±4.7Highest
CT: 18.5%
19.7%±2.4Highest
CT: 18.5%
16.6%±2.4Lowest
CT: 18.5%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
23.9%
CT: 42.5%
50.6%Highest
CT: 42.5%
22.9%
CT: 42.5%
15%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.7Lowest
CT: 7.1%
5.8%±3.3Highest
CT: 7.1%
5.4%±1.9Lowest
CT: 7.1%
5.6%±1.8
CT: 7.1%
Salem and Plainfield 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
$123,245±$8kHighest
29% above CT
$84,350±$8k
12% below CT
$76,993±$8kLowest
20% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$315,200±$28k
14% below CT
$403,600±$33kHighest
10% above CT
$288,600±$15k
21% below CT
$272,100±$16kLowest
26% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,125±$98
24% below CT
$1,440±$150Highest
3% below CT
$1,044±$141Lowest
30% below CT
$1,204±$70
19% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,538
32% below CT
$6,668Highest
about the CT average
$3,922Lowest
41% below CT
$4,209
37% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.5%±19.3
CT: 52.6%
32.1%±26Lowest
CT: 52.6%
42.8%±10.9Highest
CT: 52.6%
39.8%±9.5
CT: 52.6%
Killingly 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%
6.2%
CT: 10%
11.4%Highest
CT: 10%
8.7%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.7%
CT: 66.5%
86.6%Highest
CT: 66.5%
71.6%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
73.6%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978
11 yrs newer than CT
1988Highest
21 yrs newer than CT
1968Lowest
1 yr newer than CT
1971
4 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the CT average
32 minHighest
19% above CT
28 min
5% above CT
27 minLowest
about the CT average
Work from home
10.7%±5.4
CT: 16%
18%±9.6Highest
CT: 16%
11.1%±2.3
CT: 16%
10%±4Lowest
CT: 16%
Salem and Killingly 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 #11 of 149 in CT #136 of 149 in CT #131 of 149 in CT
School district Brooklyn School District Salem School District Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Plainfield School District
High school in town None in town None in town Killingly High School Plainfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
11.1Highest
10.3Lowest
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.