Compare towns
Brooklyn vs Stoneham vs Griswold vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brooklyn has the most homeowners (81.7%).
Stoneham has the most people working from home (24.6%).
Griswold has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
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 | Stoneham | Griswold | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,517Lowest |
23,355Highest |
11,530 |
15,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 45.6±2.5 17% above U.S. |
42.2±2.2 8% above U.S. |
48.1±3.9Highest 24% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Griswold 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% |
20.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Stoneham 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% |
20.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stoneham and Griswold 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% |
55.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest 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. |
$113,964±$10kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$78,719±$11k about the U.S. average |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Stoneham 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 5% below U.S. |
$671,900±$26kHighest 102% above U.S. |
$275,900±$42k 17% below U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$98Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$2,035±$142Highest 44% above U.S. |
$1,177±$65 17% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,538 45% above U.S. |
$6,523Highest 109% above U.S. |
$4,628 48% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.5%±19.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±8.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±15.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Griswold and Stoneham 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% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 10.7%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #113 of 149 in CT | #117 of 282 in MA | #118 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Brooklyn School District | Stoneham | Griswold School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Stoneham High | Griswold High School | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
11.5Highest |
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.