Compare towns
Brooklyn vs Salem vs Plainfield vs Killingly
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%).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% 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 | Salem | Plainfield | Killingly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,517 |
4,282Lowest |
15,141 |
17,867Highest |
| Median age | 45.6±2.5Highest 11% above CT |
40.9±5.4 about the CT average |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
39.5±3 4% 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% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 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% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.9% CT: 42.5% |
50.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9Lowest 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 |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $315,200±$28k 14% below CT |
$403,600±$33kHighest 10% above CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$98 24% below CT |
$1,440±$150Highest 3% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,538 32% below CT |
$6,668Highest about the CT average |
$4,209 37% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.5%±19.3 CT: 52.6% |
32.1%±26Lowest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9Highest 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% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.7% CT: 66.5% |
86.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
32 minHighest 19% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
28 min 5% above CT |
| Work from home | 10.7%±5.4 CT: 16% |
18%±9.6Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Brooklyn School District | Salem School District | Plainfield School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Plainfield High School | Killingly High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.3Lowest |
11.1Highest |
| 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.